Question

To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, what estimate the Government has made of the number of private companies which conduct gender pay audits on a regular basis.

We have made no estimate.

A survey of companies with over 250 staff, published in 2010, found that 43% had carried out some analysis of their gender pay gap. A further 12% were planning to do so. However, it should be noted that this analysis may have been less than a full gender pay audit.

The Government is legislating to ensure that, subject to certain exceptions, any employer that loses an employment tribunal case on equal pay will be required to conduct an equal pay audit and publish the results.