Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many and what proportion of (a) the Government Equalities Office staff and (b) staff working for companies contracted by the Government Equalities Office are paid less than the Living Wage.

The Government Equalities Office (GEO) does not have any direct employees who are paid less than the living wage.

GEO, as part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, is not responsible for setting pay levels for contracted workers. This is a matter for the organisations who employ them. Where appropriate, the Department will include a clause in its contract terms and conditions encouraging suppliers to pay at least the living wage to their employees. For existing contracts where payment of the Living Wage is an issue, the Department has entered into negotiations with those suppliers to encourage to pay it.