Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what consultations with local authorities her Department has undertaken in relation to the planned indicators to measure progress on Sustainable Development Goal 5 for the Voluntary National Review in 2019.

This Government is committed to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, and we are one of the countries who pushed hard for a standalone Sustainable Development Goal on gender.

Government policies promoting gender equality are developed in consultation with experts and interested groups. Good examples include, the consultations undertaken on the returners programmes and the gender pay gap regulations.

We will continue engaging with gender equality experts, business, civil society organisations and local authorities to ensure we are making sufficient progress, including through the Voluntary National Review process.