Oral Answers to Questions

Munira Wilson Excerpts

Wednesday 8th March 2023 Commons Chamber

The Minister for Women and Equalities was asked—

[Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD)]

1. What recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the gender pay gap.

[The Minister for Women (Maria Caulfield)]

Gender pay gap reporting continues to motivate employers to look at their pay data and improve workplace gender equality, and huge progress is being made. The gender pay gap has fallen by approximately a quarter in the past decade, but of course, there is more work to be done.

[Munira Wilson]

I thank the Minister for her response. An 18-year-old entering the workforce today will not see gender pay equality in her lifetime. With the national gender pay gap at 14% and growing, will the Minister commit this International Women’s Day to ending the motherhood penalty by fixing our broken childcare system and ensuring that every family can access affordable childcare?

[Maria Caulfield]

Absolutely. It is this Conservative Government who, in 2017, introduced the world-leading regulations that have ensured that we are able to record the gender pay gap and the progress that we are making. We are also committed to the childcare aspect, which is difficult for many women. That is why we have announced additional funding of £160 million this year, £180 million next year, and £170 million the year after for local authorities to increase the hourly rates to pay for childcare, which is so important to women.