Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of caring responsibilities on gender pay gaps.

The Government is committed to addressing the gender pay gap. Evidence shows that one of the main drivers of the gender pay gap is the time taken out of the labour market by women to care for others.

This Government has increased funded childcare provision and introduced flexible working and Shared Parental Leave policies to help men and women share caring responsibilities more equally. We have also invested £3.1m in research to help employers understand what works to close their gender pay gaps.

In 2017, we committed £5 million to support people to return to paid work in the public and private sector. These returner programmes will support carers who have taken an extended career break. The Government has also published best practice guidance to help employers of all sizes and across sectors to increase the quantity and quality of work opportunities they offer returners.