§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what Government structures exist to review the implementation of the UN's Nairobi forward-looking strategies for the advancement of women; and what such review has taken place and been published.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe Cabinet sub-committee for women's issues is responsible for reviewing and developing Government policy on issues of special concern to women, and for overseeing its implementation. The Employment Department has responsibility within Whitehall for co-ordination of policy on women's issues, including the Nairobi forward-looking strategies.
In preparation for the Fourth World Conference on Women to be held in Peking in September 1995, UN member states report on progress in the key areas of the Nairobi forward looking strategies. The UK's national report was published at the beginning of October. The report has been widely distributed and copies are available in the Library
§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment which Whitehall Departments have women's units; and what is their location, responsibilities and staffing levels.
§ Miss WiddecombeGovernment policy is to integrate consideration of women's issues into policy development, rather than have specific "women's units". A large number of policy officials therefore have responsibility to ensure that women's concerns are properly taken into account. In addition, many departments have equal opportunities units within their personnel sections, which promote equality of opportunity regardless of sex, race and disability. It is not possible to disaggregate the exact numbers of such staff devoted to equal opportunities for women.
§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what Government structures exist to review the implementation of the UN convention on the elimination of discrimination against women; and what such review has(a) taken place and (b) been published.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe Cabinet sub-committee for women's issues is responsible for reviewing and developing Government policy on issues of special concern to women, and for overseeing its implementation. The Employment Department has responsibility within Whitehall for co-ordination of policy on women's issues, including the convention for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.
Since ratifying the convention in 1986, the Government have submitted two progress reports to the United Nations, in 1987 and 1991. Both these reports were 700W published. A third report is currently being prepared, and will become freely available in March 1995.
§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current membership of the women's issues working group; and how many times the group has met over the past year.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe group's current membership is set out in the following table. The group has met twice since January 1994.
Women's Issues Working Group Membership, December 1994
The Rt. Hon. Michael Portillo, MPSecretary of State for Employment
Miss Ann Widdecombe, MPMinister of State for Employment
Ms Kamlesh BahlChairwoman, Equal Opportunities Commission
Mrs. Kay Coleman OBEChief Executive, Harveys & Co (Clothing) Ltd.
Baroness Denton of Wakefield CBEParliamentary Under Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office
Ms Sheila ForbesDirector of Human Resources, Reed Elsevier (UK) Ltd.
Dr. Ann HoggChairman of Council, Girls' Public Day School Trust
Lady HoweChairman, Business in the Community's Women's Economic Development Team, Chairman, Broadcasting Standards Council
Mr. Graham MillarManaging Director, NestléFoods Division
Mrs. Cecilia MotleyFormer Director, Action Resource Centre
The Hon. Mrs Lindy Price CBEChairman, Powys Health Care NHS Trust
Mrs. Sue Rørstad MBEChairman and Managing Director, Poppies (UK) Ltd
Mrs. Margaret SeymourManaging Director, Seymour Swimming Pool Engineers
Ms Sue Slipman, OBEDirector, National Council for One Parent Families
Mrs. Joan SmythChair and Chief Executive, Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland.