§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the main needs of girls and women in the policy areas within the sphere of his Department's activities; what has been done to identify and quantify these needs and to monitor services delivery; what consultation is carried out with women to ensure their views are adequately represented; and what training is given to his staff to raise their appreciation of the needs of girls and women.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe main needs of girls and women in education are equal opportunities for study to enable them equally to benefit from the advantages education confers. My Department, drawing on advice from Her Majesty's Inspectorate, has identified areas of the curriculum in schools and of higher education in which there has been a historically low participation by girls and sought to increase it, monitoring the results by statistical means. Opportunities for consultation exist through liaison with the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Women's National Commission. Staff in relevant branches of the Department are made aware of the need to bear in mind the provisions of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and ensure that the needs of women are taken into account in policy formulation and administration.