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.

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.