§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he has had with the Equal Opportunities Commission with a view to realising the goals of the United Nations Decade for Women.
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§ Mr. Alan ClarkMy right hon. Friend and I have had consultations with the Equal Opportunities Commission about many issues relevant to the goals of the United Nations Decade for Women. For example, we had fruitful consultations about our proposals for legislation on equal pay for work of equal value; we have provided funding to assist it in its excellent current project "Women into Science and Engineering"; and my right hon. Friend has recently approved and laid before the House its draft code of practice on the elimination of sex discrimination and the promotion of equality of opportunity in employment.
§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will consider publishing a statement on Her Majesty's Government's response to the United Nations End of Decade for Women questionnaire giving details of any future plans for extending the range, availability or duration of wider opportunities for women courses.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkWithin existing resources, the Manpower Services Commission is seeking to help more women by making wider opportunities for women courses more cost-efficient and by aligning them more closely with local labour market needs.
§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will produce an updated version of Her Majesty's Government's response to the United Nations End of Decade for Women questionnaire taking account of any subsequent available information on the range of courses studied under the youth training scheme by women.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe Manpower Services Commission is maintaining its commitment to a policy of equal opportunity for all young people eligible to join the youth training scheme, regardless of their sex, race or disability. The commission is promoting this policy, with measures to ensure that young women have equal access to enter the full range of scheme programmes. Additional steps have been taken with the use of publicity material to encourage young women to enter for training in non-traditional areas of work.
§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he has had with the Manpower Services Commission with a view to realising the goals of the United Nations Decade for Women; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkSince the commencement of the United Nations Decade for Women, the Government have worked and will continue to work through the Manpower Services Commission to improve the range and quality of training available to women, as a direct contribution to the aims of the Decade. The commission has a policy of equal access to all its programmes and encourages women to participate in "non-traditional" courses. The commission also operates a programme of development activities aimed at industry and commerce, to demonstrate the economic benefits which can result from developing women's potential to the full.
§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he has taken subsequent to Her Majesty's Government's response to the United Nations End of Decade for Women questionnaire to 139W encourage participation by boys and girls in non-traditional areas of study under the technical and vocational education initiative.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkFrom its inception the technical and vocational education initiative has given high priority to the provision of equal opportunities for boys and girls and this is reflected in the criteria set by the national steering group, which advises the Manpower Services Commission running this pilot scheme.
Across the 62 projects now operating, take-up of place's has sometimes tended to follow traditional lines, but the schools and colleges involved are actively developing strategies to encourage both boys and girls to take advantage of the opportunities that exist in all subject areas. TVEI advisers are monitoring developments and a programme of national workshops is planned to assist projects in developing strategies further.
We hope that Barking and all other local education authorities not currently participating in the initiative will respond positively to the commission's recent invitation to submit a proposal for a project to begin this year or next.