Gender Pay Gap 2023-01-25
2023-01-25
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Statistics show that the gender pay gap has worsened for certain ethnic groups, such as black African women at 26%, Bangladeshi and Pakistani women at 28% and 31% respectively.
The gender pay gap for full-time employees was 8.3% in April 2022, which was sadly up from 7.7% the previous year. Worse still, Labour's analysis has uncovered that the gender pay gap for black African women is an appalling 26% when compared with the average male worker, and the figures for Bangladeshi and Pakistani women are 28% and 31% respectively. Rather than watch as the situation deteriorates, what urgent steps are the Government taking to deal with these dreadful disparities?
I do not recognise any of the hon. Gentleman's statistics. With all due respect, I have seen all sorts of Labour analysis that misuses and abuses statistics to the point where we honestly cannot take it seriously. If he does have real evidence, I am keen that he sends it for the equality hub to analyse. Those figures do not represent anything we have found across Government.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer dismisses the statistics provided by Labour and does not address the urgent steps needed to tackle disparities.
Denies Recognition Of Statistics
Asks For Evidence
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The question follows a proposal to require large firms to publish gender pay gap plans, permit equal pay comparisons, extend statutory leave for parents, and strengthen protections for pregnant women.
Closing the gender pay gap would add £600 million to the UK's economy by 2025. Labour has a plan to do this by requiring large firms to publish gender pay gap plans, permitting equal pay comparisons, extending statutory maternity and paternity leave, and strengthening protections for pregnant women. Will the Government finally accept our proposals?
I am afraid that the Government will not accept those proposals. The hon. Lady conflates equal pay and gender pay gap reporting, which are not the same thing. This is an area that has a lot of nuance, and Labour needs to do a little more homework.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The question discusses the importance of childcare for mothers returning to work and seeks support from the Government.
Does my right hon. Friend agree that one of the most effective ways to close the gender pay gap is to support women who are returning to work after pregnancy? Will she therefore use her good offices to encourage cross-Government work to improve the affordability and availability of childcare for new mothers?
Both sides of the House can agree that more support and more work is needed on this issue. Childcare is one of the reasons why women leave the workplace, and we are doing everything we can to support women to have appropriate childcare arrangements.
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Assessment & feedback
Does not provide specific measures or commitments regarding cross-Government work for childcare improvement.
Response accuracy