Employment: Gender Equality

Debate between Baroness Manzoor and Baroness Garden of Frognal

Wednesday 26th November 2014 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Garden of Frognal]

I apologise; I thought that I had answered that. We now have 39 women who are leading UK missions overseas.

[Baroness Manzoor (LD)]

My Lords, women are not a homogeneous group. Black and ethnic minority women are totally overrepresented in low-paying jobs. Can the Minister say how this is being addressed by the Government?

[Baroness Garden of Frognal]

Indeed, there are certainly problems with particular groups. One such group is the care sector, where women are disproportionately represented and pay is disproportionately low. Certainly, women from ethnic communities would come into the Government’s consideration in trying to encourage all women to improve their qualifications and training, and to aspire to do jobs which really challenge and test them.