Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he plans to undertake a gender impact analysis of potential future trade deals with the EU.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
This government has made a firm commitment to maintaining the UK’s long-standing record of ensuring our rights and liberties are protected as we exit the EU. All government departments have an ongoing responsibility to meet the Public Sector Equalities Duty (PSED) under the Equality Act 2010. As such, when formulating any policy changes relating to EU exit, ministers must have due regard to the three limbs of the PSED: (1) eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act, (2) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not, and (3) foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. “Sex” is a relevant protected characteristic, so gender impacts will be included in these considerations.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what estimate he has made of the number of staff in his Department with expertise on gender and trade.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
The information you have requested is not held centrally therefore we are not in a position to provide this for particular groups of staff.
The Department for Exiting the European Union is drawing together expertise from a wide range of departments where there is specific relevant knowledge. The Department has sourced a large proportion of experienced staff from across Whitehall on a loan basis and a number of secondees from the private sector and the wider public sector. All departments are equipping themselves with the resources they need to get the best deal for the UK.