§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made within his Department on equal opportunities matters. [21481]
§ Mr. LangThe Scottish Office as an employer, has made considerable progress on equal opportunities issues. Its initiatives have been based on the 1984 report, on "Equality of Opportunity for Women in the Civil Service", and also on the Cabinet Office "Programmes of Action on Race and Disability".
Details of these initiatives can be found in the following Cabinet Office publications:
- Civil Service Data Summary 1994
- Equal Opportunities for Women in the Civil Service—10 Year
- Progress Report 1984–94
- Annual Reports on the Progress of Women and People of Ethnic Origin
§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [21483]
§ Mr. LangThe Government are committed to the principles set out in the regional platform for action agreed at the preparatory conference in Vienna for the334W 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.
In line with the Government's commitment in the White Paper "Taking Forward Continuity and Change", the Scottish Office is committed to reporting on equal opportunities in its annual report.
§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the gender assessment being prepared by his Department. [21482]
§ Mr. LangThe Scottish Office 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 Scotland which Minister in his Department has responsibility for equal opportunities issues. [21480]
§ Mr. LangI am responsible, along with my ministerial team, for ensuring that Government policy on equal opportunities is implemented in the Scottish Office.