Oral Answers to Questions

Anum Qaisar Excerpts

Wednesday 26th April 2023 Commons Chamber

[Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP)]

3. What steps the Government have taken to help ensure that women have equitable pay.

[Ms Anum Qaisar (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)]

12. What steps the Government have taken to help ensure that women have equitable pay.

[The Minister for Women and Equalities (Kemi Badenoch)]

The gender pay gap has fallen by approximately a quarter in the last decade. The Conservative Government introduced gender pay gap reporting, building on the pay protections we already have in the Equality Act 2010. That has motivated employers to look at their pay data and include workplace gender equality.

[Kemi Badenoch]

The gender pensions gap, as the hon. Lady has described it, is a complex issue. It is tied to the labour market, the pensions system and demographic differences. By 2030 more than 3 million women will have benefited from a higher state pension through our new state pension reforms. On average, female pensioners will receive around £570 a year more than they would have received under the previous system. That is the work that we are doing to address this issue.

[Ms Qaisar]

Fawcett Society evidence shows that more than a third of women want to work, but are prevented by reasons including a lack of flexible working options and affordable childcare. The reforms proposed in the UK Government’s consultation still require employees to request flexible working. Will the Minister ensure that that is enshrined as a day one right to support women to remain in work and to help tackle the gender pay gap?

[Kemi Badenoch]

The hon. Lady will know that we are supporting the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill. That private Member’s Bill will deliver changes, including requiring employers to consult with an employee, as a means of exploring alternative options, before rejecting a request for flexible working; and enabling employees to make two flexible working requests a year—up from one—and receive faster decisions on their requests. Employees will no longer be required to explain the impact of their requests for flexible working arrangements on the employer. We think that will go a long way to resolve the issues around flexible working.