HC Deb 11 June 2003 vol 406 cc950-1W
Angela Eagle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on completing a pay audit in his Department and its non-departmental public bodies to measure any disadvantage in terms of remuneration for(a) women, (b) ethnic minorities and (c) people with disabilities; and if he will publish the results of such an audit. [117436]

Beverley Hughes

The Home Office completed the final report of its Equal Pay Audit, including an action plan, and submitted it to Cabinet Office on 6 May 2003. The report found at non-Agency Home Office pay structures and practices had been "equality-proofed" and were within the tolerance standards set by the Equal Opportunities Commission in relation to gender. The Home Office action plan includes undertaking a second equal pay review later in 2003, which in addition to considering gender, will seek to measure any disadvantage in terms of remuneration for ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.

A copy of the action plan will be placed in the Library once any arising discussions with Cabinet Office have been concluded.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies were not formally covered by the commitment but may have carried out their own Equal Pay Audits.

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