Oral Answers to Questions

Paula Sherriff Excerpts

Thursday 29th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Karen Lee (Lincoln) (Lab)]

9. What steps the Government are taking to ensure companies produce action plans to reduce their gender pay gap.

[Paula Sherriff (Dewsbury) (Lab)]

11. What steps the Government are taking to ensure companies produce action plans to reduce their gender pay gap.

[The Minister for Women and Equalities (Amber Rudd)]

Last year we introduced groundbreaking regulations requiring employers to publish gender pay gap data. Reporting is an important first step, but what matters now is that employers actually take action. While this is not mandatory, we strongly encourage employers to publish a plan alongside their figures.

--- Later in debate ---

[Amber Rudd]

I share the hon. Lady’s outrage at some of the sizes of the gender pay gaps, but I feel that that just gives even more weight to the fact that it was absolutely right to bring forward last year’s legislation. Revealing pay gaps is exactly how we will start to get proper action.

[Paula Sherriff]

What assessment has the Minister made of recent gender pay gap analysis showing that multi-academy trusts have some of the worst gender pay gaps in the UK?

[Amber Rudd]

The hon. Lady will be aware that multi-academy trusts are also covered by this requirement. We will see their reporting, which is taking place right now, and we will then assess what the consequences are, and whether additional action or influence is needed to ensure that improvements are made.