§ Angela EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on completing a pay audit in her 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 she will publish the results of such an audit. [117439]
§ Alun MichaelIn its response to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) Task Force report, "Just Pay", the Government committed all Departments and agencies to review their pay systems by April 2003 and prepare action plans to close any equal pay gaps.
The position in Defra and its agencies is as follows:
Defra
Defra has undertaken an Equal Pay Review in line with the guidance from the Cabinet Office. This has included the Pesticides Safety Directorate and Veterinary Medicines Directorate, for which the core Department has pay remit and negotiating responsibility.
The Defra Equal Pay Review covered pay related issues in terms of gender, ethnicity and disability. A draft action plan was submitted to the Cabinet Office by the deadline of 30 April 2003. Defra senior management are considering the review's conclusions and the ways in which the action plan can be implemented. This will include liaison with the Cabinet Office. Once these discussions have been concluded, a copy of the Defra action plan will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
AGENCIES
Central Science Laboratory
The Central Science Laboratory commenced an Equal Pay Audit in autumn 2002, to be carried out in line with Cabinet Office guidance. A joint review team was established with the trades union side and a CSL Equal Pay Policy has been agreed. An organisational action plan has been completed in line with Cabinet Office guidance issued in March 2003 and was submitted to Cabinet Office in May 2003. CSL will continue to liaise with the trades unions as part of an on-going review of equal pay within the agency.
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
An Equal Pay Review has been carried out in the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, and a draft report is being considered by senior management.
Rural Payments Agency
The Rural Payments Agency has completed out an Equal Pay Review in accordance with the Cabinet Office guidance. The Review's conclusions are being considered by senior management and the trade unions. The RPA will submit an action plan to the Cabinet Office shortly.
13WVeterinary Laboratories Agency
The Veterinary Laboratory Agency pay equality audit has been completed and an action plan sent to the Cabinet Office. Any action necessary will be considered within the pay negotiations for 2003.
NON-DEPARTMENTAL PUBLIC BODIES
Non-departmental public bodies are not required to undertake an Equal Pay Review by April 2003, although several have done so.