§ Mr. BerryTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the arrangements and mechanisms whereby the Women's Unit will ensure that women's interests are taken into account in the development and delivery of policies by all Government Departments in line with the performance targets. [71533]
§ Ms JowellI have been asked to reply.
"Policy Appraisal for Equal Treatment" was issued jointly by my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Women, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in November 1998. These guidelines, which were placed in the Library on 5 November 1998, show how to ensure that both policy making and service design consider the impact upon women and other groups. They have been sent to all Departments and agencies under cover of a note from the Cabinet Secretary emphasising their importance. This updated previous guidelines issued in 1992.
As set out in the Cabinet Office Public Service Agreement (PSA) (published as part of the "Public Services for the Future" White Paper in December 1998), the Women's Unit will develop further guidance for policy makers by the end of the year on how to consider the needs and requirements of women. This will 142W by the Department's Executive Agencies, including own expenditure by Central Office of Information and the Buying Agency, which are Trading Funds.
supplement the policy appraisal guidance. This will be circulated to all Government Departments and placed in the Library when complete.
The Women's Unit worked closely with Her Majesty's Treasury and other Departments in the development on PSAs which reflect women's interests. A performance target on tackling domestic violence against women has been included in the PSA for the Home Office and on the National Childcare Strategy in the PSA for the Department for Education and Employment. My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Women sits on the relevant Cabinet Committee which will be monitoring Departments' performance. Monitoring will cover the handling of cross-cutting issues, including women's interests.
The Women's Unit convenes a women's policy group of senior officials from Departments across Whitehall with responsibility for women's issues in their Departments. This group maintains an overview of activity to ensure that women's interests are taken into account coherently and consistently.
The Director of the Women's Unit is also responsible for the Women's National Commission (WNC), the advisory non-departmental public body on women. The WNC represents some 50 organisations with around 8 million members, and provides advice and comment on all aspects of Government policy.