HC Deb 01 May 1995 vol 259 cc15-6W
Ms Eagle

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made within his Department on equal opportunities matters. [21532]

Mr. Ian Taylor

The Cabinet Office regularly publishes information on progress on equal opportunities matters in the civil service, including in the DTI. I refer the hon. Member to the following reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the HouseEqual Opportunities in the Civil Service for people of Ethnic Minority Origin: Third Progress Report 1992–93 Equal Opportunities for Women in the Civil Service: 10 Year Progress Report 1984–1994 Civil Service Data Summary 1994: Women, Race, Disability".

In 1993 the DTI published a summary of progress on equal opportunities for female staff in the Department since 1984. I am placing a copy of this report in the Library of the House.

Ms Eagle

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress he hopes to achieve in his Department over the next three months to push forward the declaration signed in October 1994 at the Vienna conference in preparation for the 4th UN conference on women; and if he will incorporate a section on equal opportunities in his Department's annual report. [21534]

Mr. Page

The Government is committed to the principles set out in the Regional Platform for Action agreed at the preparatory conference in Vienna for the Fourth UN world conference on women. We have taken these forward through a wide range of programmes and initiatives and will continue to do so. We have also committed ourselves to publishing actions and progress on equal opportunities in annual reports from 1995–96 onwards.

Ms Eagle

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the gender assessment being prepared by his Department. [21533]

Mr. Page

This Department's policy, in line with guidance issued in 1992 by the ministerial group on women's issues, is that policy proposals should ensure that unlawful or unjustifiable sex or race discrimination does not occur and that similar principles apply to people with disabilities, older people or ex-offenders. This scrutiny is part of a continuous and routine process, as part of policy advice to Ministers.

Ms Eagle

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which Minister in his Department has responsibility for equal opportunities issues. [21531]

Mr. Ian Taylor

I am responsible for personnel issues within DTI including equal opportunities. My hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Industry and Energy sits on the ministerial sub-committee on women's issues.

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