Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Gender-targeted Pricing

Wednesday 26 May 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Prices in the UK are set by competition, not the Government.
  • It is unlawful to offer goods or services at different prices based on sex under the Equality Act 2010.
  • The Minister disagrees that women pay more for basic goods and services due to gender-targeted pricing.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
Women & Equalities
Context

The question arises from ongoing concerns about gender-based price discrimination, especially in light of the impact on women during and post-pandemic.

Question

Whether the Government are taking steps to tackle gender-targeted pricing. Prices in the UK are set by competition, not the government, but it is unlawful to offer goods or services at a range of different prices based on sex under the Equality Act 2010.

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

Prices in the UK are set by competition, not the Government. It is unlawful to offer goods or services at a range of different prices based on sex under the Equality Act 2010.

Answered
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Q2 Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
Women & Equalities
Context

The question stems from persistent concerns about gender-based price discrimination affecting single-parent families with daughters, highlighting a gap in enforcing existing laws.

Question

Women still pay on average 20% more for basic goods and services despite it being unlawful under the Equality Act 2010. The Minister acknowledges this but has not taken steps to ensure enforcement of the law regarding gender-targeted pricing.

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

Disagreement with the premise and argument presented by the hon. Lady. In a legal sense, there is no discrimination involved in gender pricing as individuals are free to make choices regardless of stereotypes. A bill addressing this issue could reinforce rather than diminish stereotypes.

Not addressed: Enforcement of the Equality Act 2010 regarding gender-targeted pricing

How: Disagreement With Premise, Referring To Legal Interpretation

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