Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK’s Presidency of the G7: Gender Equality

Wednesday 26 May 2021 · 3 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK is convening a G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council to promote gender equality and women's empowerment during its presidency.
  • The Gender Equality Advisory Council includes STEM leaders like Professor Sarah Gilbert and Dr Fabiola Gianotti to encourage more girls and women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
  • The UK Government has enacted the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and is preparing to respond to workplace sexual harassment issues.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Julie Marson
Foreign Affairs Women & Equalities
Context

As the UK holds the G7 presidency, there is an opportunity to promote gender equality globally.

Question

What steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to promote gender equality through the UK's presidency of the G7?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

We have a huge opportunity as we recover from covid-19 for women across the world to build back better. That is why I have convened a group of leaders in the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council, under the leadership of Sarah Sands, to push for better education for women and girls, economic empowerment and ending violence against women across the world.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps or actions taken with the Secretary of State are not detailed.

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Q2 Julie Marson
Women & Equalities
Context

The previous answer mentioned the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council's work.

Question

Can she tell me whether the Gender Equality Advisory Council will be working to improve women's and girls' participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and industries?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

I am pleased to say that the GEAC is packed with inspirational STEM leaders such as Professor Sarah Gilbert who spearheaded the Oxford vaccine and CERN director general Dr Fabiola Gianotti; they are leading figures. A key aim of the GEAC is to ensure that more girls and women are involved in industries of the future such as technology and science so that they can get well-paid jobs.

Answered
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Q3 Marsha de Cordova Lab Battersea
Women & Equalities
Context

In the previous G7 summit in August 2019, the UK Government made three domestic commitments for gender equality.

Question

At the G7 summit in August 2019, the Government made three commitments for domestic progress on gender equality: delivery of the Domestic Abuse Bill; reform of parental leave; and action on workplace sexual harassment. But last year just 3.5% of fathers took shared parental leave, and the TUC found that one in two women experience sexual harassment at work. We are still waiting for the Government to respond to consultations on both those issues. What does the Minister think it says about her record that only one of those commitments has so far been completed? When will she bring forward reforms to these schemes?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

As the hon. Member points out, we have brought forward and enacted the leading Domestic Abuse Act 2021. The Minister for Safeguarding is on the Front Bench; she has done a fantastic job on that. We will shortly be bringing forward the response on sexual harassment.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific timeline or details of reforms to shared parental leave and workplace sexual harassment were not provided.

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