HC Deb 09 June 1992 vol 209 cc141-2W
25. Mr. Trimble

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether she will make a statement on the Government's policy concerning achieving equality of outcome in employment for minority groups.

Mr. McLoughlin

The Government are fully committed to ensuring equality of opportunity in the labour market for all.

The Department takes every opportunity to encourage employers to recognise the value—to themselves as well as to the community—of sound equal opportunities policies and practices in the workplace, and where necessary to provide practical help and advice. A recent example is the Department's 10-point plan pack for employers. Offering practical guidance on the developlment of appropriate policies, the pack underlines the message that the pursuit of equal opportunities is not only in the interests of minority groups. It also makes good business sense for employers to make the best possible use of all the human resources available to them.

The Government's commitment to equal opportunities in employment is also applied through training and enterprise councils and the Employment Service, in the delivery of their programmes and services and by the Government as an employer itself.

Mrs. Roe

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will name the members of the small high level working group which will advise her on issues relevant to women's opportunities in the workplace and beyond.

Mr. McLoughlin

The first members are as follows:

LADY HOWE

Chairman

  • Business in the Community's Women's Economic Development Team.
  • Responsible for Opportunity 2000 (and former Deputy Chairman Equal Opportunities Commission).

JOANNA FOSTER

Chairman

  • Equal Opportunities Commission

SUE SLIPMAN

Director

  • National Council for One Parent Families

BARONESS DENTON Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department of Trade and Industry and Government Co-chair, Women's National Commission

SUE RORSTAD

Chairman and Managing Director

  • Poppies UK Ltd.

PETER DAVIES

Chief Executive

  • Reed International Plc

KAY COLEMAN

Chief Executive

  • Harveys & Co. (clothing) Ltd.

GRAHAM MILLAR

Managing Director

  • Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionary Ltd.

DR. SUSAN MCRAE

Senior Fellow

  • Policy Studies Institute

SIR BRYAN NICHOLSON

Chairman, Post Office Chairman, National Council for Vocational Qualifications; Former Chairman, Manpower Services Commission

MARGARET SEYMOUR

Managing Director

  • Seymour Swimming Pool Engineers