Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Equality and Human Rights Commission's Fair opportunities for all: A strategy to reduce pay gaps in Britain report, what steps she is taking to tackle gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps.

We note the findings of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s research into gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps. The Government is tackling pay gaps by requiring large employers, including the public sector, to publish their gender pay gap and gender bonus gap. In addition, we are exploring options for introducing other forms of pay gap reporting.

Furthermore, the government is offering 30 hours of free childcare for working families with 3 and 4 year-olds, has extended the right to request flexible working to all employees and introduced shared parental leave. In addition, we are providing £5m of funding to increasing Returners Programmes.

We are also encouraging girls to consider a wider range of careers, including in those higher paying sectors traditionally dominated by men, through funding programmes in schools to increase take-up of STEM subjects and programmes such as STEM ambassadors.