§ Ms Janet AndersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to measure and evaluate the effect of his Department's policies on women. [5483]
§ Mr. HoramIn July this year, the model guidance on policy appraisal for equal treatment was revised and circulated at Cabinet level for Departments to adapt to their own circumstances. Copies have been placed in the Library. This guidance requires officials to identify policy issues which might impact differentially on women and men, and other groups, to assess whether this is justified in policy terms, and to adjust the policy if it is not. Women are major users of health services and play an increasing role as managers and employees in the health and social services professions. Health policy and services need to be responsive to and reflect women's needs. Headline achievements in the Department of Health and the national health service have included
545WMaking women's health a key health ministerial responsibility since 1986.Regular ministerial meetings with representatives of women's groups; a wide range of women's health organisations receive funding.Extensive gender-disaggregated statistics on health status and health-related behaviour are published by. or on behalf of, the Department of Health.Many of "The Health of the Nation" targets are relevant to women and several are set specifically for them.The recent Government report "One Year On" outlines action taken by Government to benefit women since the World Conference on Women, and also includes baseline statistics against which future progress may be measured.