HC Deb 10 May 1995 vol 259 cc472-3W
Ms Eagle

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish the gender assessment being prepared by his Department. [21487]

Mr. Sproat

This Department's policy, in line with the 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 Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. [21488]

Mr. Sproat

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 world conference on women. We have taken these forward through a wide range of programmes and initiatives and will continue to do so. The DNH annual report in each of the last two years refers to the progress the Department is making on equal opportunities issues.