HC Deb 27 May 1993 vol 225 cc654-5W
Ms Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action she is taking to lessen inequalities between women's and men's pay.

Mr. McLoughlin

In 1992, women's average hourly earnings—excluding overtime—were 79.2 per cent. of men's, the highest level ever, and the fifth consecutive year in which the differential between men's and women's pay had narrowed.

The pursuit of sound economic policies resulting in high productivity and low inflation have established the appropriate conditions for the recent success in further narrowing the differential between women's and men's pay. Further progress in this area will depend in part on sustaining and improving on these economic gains.

Ms Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action she is taking to combat sex discrimination in the workplace.

Mr. McLoughlin

The Equal Pay Act 1970 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, both as amended, make discrimination on grounds of sex in contractual and non-contractual employment matters unlawful. The Department publishes and distributes widely explanatory guides to the legislation.

The Department also funds the Equal Opportunities Commission, which has a statutory duty to work towards the elimination of discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity between women and men.