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Written question asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated) on Tuesday, 6 September 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 20 September 2016. It was answered by Lord Nash (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 September 2016 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Equal Pay

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies that has identified an 18 per cent gap between men's and women's earnings.

Answer

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) research notes that the differential in average earnings between women and men remains substantial. The Office for National Statistics figures show that the gender pay gap has been virtually eliminated for women under 40 years of age working full-time, and has decreased for all women over 40 years of age working full-time, but we know that there is more to do. New regulations requiring large employers to be more transparent will take us one step closer to eliminating the gender pay gap within a generation.

The IFS research also highlighted that the gender pay gap widens once women start a family. We have extended the right to request flexible working to all employees; introduced a new system of shared parental leave; and committed to providing 30 hours of free childcare a week for working families.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL1632
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Equal pay
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk