§ Jackie BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the women's organisations which have been consulted over proposed legislation by his Department during this session; and if their responses have been published. [87187]
§ Mr. MealeThe Government are committed to making sure that policies are inclusive and take full account of the needs and experience of all those affected by them. Guidelines on Policy Appraisals for Equal Treatment published in November 1998 commit policy makers to assessing how proposals affect different groups of people.
Application of the guidance has been the responsibility of individual departments. Within this Department we are making use of consultation, research projects and disaggregated statistics to identify the impact of policy upon women. On the transport side, for example, we are conducting an audit of women's transport requirements 333W and developing a checklist for transport providers. Similarly, in housing, we are reviewing the support and accommodation provided by local authorities to households experiencing domestic violence to see if it fits women's needs. This project has an advisory group with representation from women's groups.