Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Penny Mordaunt and Geraint Davies

Thursday 14th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op)]

As the Minister for Women and Equalities knows, the estimated 18% gender pay gap is likely to grow following Brexit as women in public services and retail are disproportionately affected. Does she accept that the women who voted to leave did not vote to leave themselves worse off and that they deserve a final-say referendum on the exit deal?

[Penny Mordaunt]

No. We do not want a second referendum, which would be disastrous. We are doing specific work in those sectors to close the gender pay gap. However, I caution that some companies that are doing the right thing will see their pay gaps widen because they may be recruiting many more young women, so we must look at the figures in detail to see that good progress is being made.