HC Deb 21 November 1996 vol 285 cc685-6W
Ms Janet Anderson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to measure and evaluate the effect of her Department's policies on women. [5491]

Mrs. Gillan

In July of 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. A copy was placed in the Library. This guidance requires officials to identify policy issues which might impact differently 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. Advice based on that model has been issued to all senior officials in the Department accompanied by a supportive personal message from the permanent secretary.

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 can be measured.