HC Deb 01 May 1995 vol 259 cc32-3W
Ms Eagle

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he intends to consult on the Vienna declaration prior to the UN conference on women in Beijing; to which interested groups the Vienna declaration has been circulated for comment; and what steps he has taken to progress the implementation of the Vienna declaration signed in October 1994. [21309]

Miss Widdecombe

Throughout the preparatory phase for the fourth world conference on women, the Government have been in continuous dialogue with women's non-governmental organisations and other interested groups. More than 500 copies of the regional platform for action agreed at the preparatory conference in Vienna have been circulated to NGOs, local authorities, academic institutions, trade unions, businesses and all members and associate members of the Women's National Commission. The Government are committed to the principles set out in the regional platform for action and are taking these forward through a wide range of programmes and initiatives.

Ms Eagle

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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 fourth UN conference on women; and if he will agree to incorporate a section on equal opportunities in his Department's annual report. [21463]

Miss Widdecombe

The Government are committed to the principles set out in the regional platform for action agreed at the preparatory conference in Vienna for the fourth UN conference on women. We have taken these forward through a wide range of programmes and initiatives and will continue to do so.

In line with the Government White Paper, "Taking Forward Continuity and Change", the Department will publish actions and progress on equal opportunities in its annual report from 1995–96.

Ms Eagle

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made within his Department on equal opportunities matters. [21461]

Miss Widdecombe

Good progress is being made towards the numerical benchmarks for the employment of women, ethnic minorities and disabled people in the Employment Department Group for the year 2000, and towards implementing the agreed recommendations of a report which investigated the causes of the under-representation of women at senior levels in the group. A number of initiatives to help staff combine work and domestic responsibilities have been introduced, including part-time and alternative working arrangements; homeworking; career breaks and special leave arrangements. There is support for child care through six workplace nurseries and 35 holiday play schemes. A programme has recently been introduced for staff from ethnic minorities to enable them to compete more effectively for jobs in areas where they are under-represented. An advisory group on women has been set up to advise on how policies and practices in the ED group impact on women.

Ms Eagle

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the gender assessment being prepared by his Department. [21460]

Miss Widdecombe

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.