§ Mr. Stephen TwiggTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the value of women's juries in influencing policy. [47476]
§ Ms RuddockThe pilot juries have been a valuable exercise and a positive experience for those involved in them. They have provided an opportunity for women whose voices are not normally heard to contribute more directly to the policy making process. The two juries made over 60 recommendations, covering a range of issues including the regulation of childcare, parental leave, and part-time working. The responses are being fed into the consultation processes on "Fairness at Work" and "Meeting the Childcare Challenge".
I wrote to each of the jurors last week enclosing a copy of the Government's response. A copy of each set of recommendations and the Government response is being placed in the Library today.
A formal evaluation of the contribution juries can make to our Dialogue with Women and their effectiveness as a consultative mechanism will be carried out over the summer months.