Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Gender Pay Gap

Wednesday 25 January 2023 · 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tan Dhesi questioned the Minister about the gender pay gap, citing an 8.3% gap for full-time employees in April 2022 and a 26% gap for black African women.
  • Ellie Reeves proposed Labour plans to close the gender pay gap, including requiring large firms to publish gender pay gap plans and extending statutory maternity leave.
  • Robin Walker asked the Minister to support women returning to work after pregnancy by encouraging cross-Government work to improve childcare affordability and availability.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tan Dhesi Lab Slough
Women & Equalities
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

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.

Not addressed: The answer dismisses the statistics provided by Labour and does not address the urgent steps needed to tackle disparities.

How: Denies Recognition Of Statistics, Asks For Evidence

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Q2 Ellie Reeves Lab Lewisham West and East Dulwich
Economy Women & Equalities
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

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.

Answered
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Q3 Robin Walker Con
Women & Equalities Children & Families
Context

The question discusses the importance of childcare for mothers returning to work and seeks support from the Government.

Question

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?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not provide specific measures or commitments regarding cross-Government work for childcare improvement.

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