Gender Pay Gap Debate

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Department: Home Office

Gender Pay Gap

John Bercow Excerpts
Thursday 4th April 2019

(5 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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None Portrait Several hon. Members rose—
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. Several Members wish to catch my eye, but the Backbench Business Committee debates are heavily subscribed, and there is a business question to follow. There is a premium on brevity from Back and Front Benchers alike, and I want to move to the business question no later than 11 o’clock. People should take their cue from the right hon. Member for New Forest West (Sir Desmond Swayne), whose succinctness is exemplary. I call Mr Philip Hollobone.

Philip Hollobone Portrait Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)
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Which sectors of the economy have the biggest gender pay gap, and which have the smallest?

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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Ah! A sentence, please. Jim Shannon.

Jim Shannon Portrait Jim Shannon
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One sentence, Mr Speaker. Has the Minister had any discussions with the devolved regions about the implementation of reviews throughout the public and private sectors to get a clearer picture of how we stand?

Victoria Atkins Portrait Victoria Atkins
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Yes, of course. We are very keen to work with all our colleagues throughout the United Kingdom to ensure that businesses and employers are treating their female staff fairly, regardless of where they happen to be in the United Kingdom.

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. I think the shadow Minister for Women and Equalities wants to raise a point of order that relates to the exchanges that we have just had, and that point of order, and that point of order only, I am content to take now.

Dawn Butler Portrait Dawn Butler
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On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I have just contacted the chief executive of Brent Council, Carolyn Downs, and she has informed me that Brent Council submitted the gender pay gap report on Friday 29 March via the Government’s own portal. I wonder whether the Minister would like to stand and make an apology to Brent Council.

Victoria Atkins Portrait Victoria Atkins
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Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. That was not the information I had just before I walked into the Chamber. I am advised that it was not on the gender pay gap portal. Of course if Carolyn Downs has done what she should have done and followed the law I am not sure I will congratulate her; I am just pleased that she is following the law.

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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We will leave it there. Thank you.