§ Ms Janet AndersonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to measure and evaluate the effect of his Department's policies on women. [5481]
§ Mrs. BrowningIn 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. A copy was placed in the Library of the House. 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.
Guidance was already in place in MAFF requiring those involved in the development of policies to evaluate the equal treatment aspects. Officials are now considering how best to revise this in the light of the revised model guidance.