§ Ms EagleTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which Minister in his Department has responsibility for equal opportunity issues. [21445]
§ Mrs. BrowningMy right hon. Friend the Minister, has overall responsibility for all departmental issues. I have particular responsibility for equal opportunity issues.
§ Ms EagleTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made within his Department on equal opportunity matters. [21446]
§ Mrs. BrowningThe Department continues to implement its strategy for equality of opportunity for women staff. In the past 12 months this has included the introduction of a career break scheme, an assessment of the suitability of posts for flexible working and increased child-care facilities. The departmental strategy for equality of opportunity for staff of ethnic minority origin has been relaunched. A departmental strategy on the employment of staff with disabilities is being formulated using results from a staff survey in which 600 staff reported a disability.
§ Ms EagleTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the gender assessment being prepared by his Department. [21447]
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§ Mrs. BrowningThe 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 discrimination against specific groups of people, including men and women, does not occur. This scrutiny is part of a continuous and routine process, as part of policy advice to Ministers.
§ Ms EagleTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [21448]
§ Mrs. BrowningThe Department will continue to ensure that unlawful or unjustifiable discrimination against specific groups of people does not occur as a result of its policies.
The Department's annual report already includes details on equal opportunities with regard to its staff. The Department will continue to include such information in line with central commitments.