HC Deb 19 June 2003 vol 407 cc366-7W
Angela Eagle

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 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. [117440]

Mr. Charles Clarke

My Department has submitted a report on Gender Pay Equality (including an action plan) to the Cabinet Office. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library of the House, when discussions with Cabinet Office are concluded. Non-departmental public bodies were not required to submit an equal pay report to Cabinet Office, although many have conducted a similar audit, as best practice. It has not been possible to provide the requested information for my Department's non-departmental public bodies without incurring disproportionate cost.

A further pay equality review, covering not only gender but also ethnicity and people with disabilities, will begin in my Department when this year's pay award has been delivered, towards the end of this year. The results will be made available on completion of the exercise.