§ 23. Tony LloydTo ask the Minister for Women what steps are being taken to erode the differential between male and female earnings. [170672]
§ Jacqui SmithWe are taking a number of steps to increase women's opportunities in the labour market such as increasing support for child care, flexible working and work-balance and the help we, together with the EOC, have provided employees to tackle unequal pay where it exists. Indeed, we welcome yesterday's publication of the EOC's interim report on modern apprenticeships, which looks at the issue of occupational segregation, one of the causes of the gender pay gap.