§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made within his Department on equal opportunities matters. [21522]
§ Mr. GoodladThe FCO, including ODA, is committed to equal opportunities. We have a number of programmes for action on women and race and are finalising programmes for the disabled. We are active members of Opportunity 2000.
A number of initiatives to increase the recruitment of women and to help them fulfil their potential are set out in the 1995 departmental report, copies of which have been placed in the House Libraries. The number of female ambassadors has risen to six since the report was issued.
§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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 incorporate a section on equal opportunities in his Department's annual report. [21524]
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe are committed to the principles set out in the regional platform for action agreed at the preparatory conference in Vienna for the fourth world conference on women. We have taken these forward through a wide range of programmes and initiatives and will continue to do so.
Equal Opportunities issues are included in the 1995 departmental report.
§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the gender assessment being prepared by his Department. [21523]
§ Mr. GoodladFCO 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 EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Minister in his Department has responsibility for equal opportunities issues. [21521]
§ Mr. GoodladMy right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Chalker of Wallasey and I have responsibility for equal opportunities issues in the Overseas Development Administration and the diplomatic wing of the FCO respectively.
§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will name the leader and members of the United Kingdom delegation to the UN international conference on women in Beijing. [21602]
45W
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Aylesbury by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Employment, on 16 March 1995,Official Report, column 648.