Written question asked by Gordon Prentice (Labour) on Thursday, 11 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 November 2004. It was answered by Jane Kennedy (Labour) on Thursday, 18 November 2004 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the participation of Muslim women in the labour market.

Answer: Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the participation of Muslim women in the labour market. [198379] Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply. Labour Force Survey Spring 20041 data shows 34 per cent. of Muslim women are active in the labour market compared with 73 per cent. of all women. We have a strategy in place to help disadvantaged ethnic minority groups improve their access to employment, including those from Muslim communities, and this is being taken forward by the Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force. Muslim women have access to the full range of help offered by Jobcentre Plus both mainstream programmes and specific measures, such as Ethnic Minority Outreach, to help attract and support those facing significant barriers to work. We are undertaking research to improve our understanding of the problems faced by ethnic minorities in getting jobs. Current research projects include a survey of the barriers faced by inactive and unemployed Pakistani and Bangladeshi people, both men and women. 1 Labour Force Survey four quarter average to spring 2004.

Secondary information