§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Minister for the Civil Service what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken in relation to article 63(b) of the 1975 world plan of action for the United Nations Decade for Women.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe Sex Discrimination Act 1975 prohibits discrimination by the Government in making appointments to public office and by employers in140W recruiting and promoting employees. The Equal Opportunities Commission, established under the Act with the duty of promoting equality, monitors women's success in achieving public office and their situation in the labour market and advises both public and private sector employers on developing equal opportunity policies. The Government's annual labour force survey provides information about the number of women employed in the public service and their occupations. In regard to that part of the public service which is directly under Government control, the Government announced on 9 February 1984 in both Houses of Parliament a programme of action on women in the Civil Service, consisting of 70 items covering the whole spectrum of equal opportunities issues.