Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if the Government will bring into force section 106 of the Equality Act 2010 so that political parties would be required to publish diversity data on candidates standing in elections.

We keep section 106 under review, as we do with other uncommenced provisions in the Equality Act 2010.

The Government Equalities Office is working to support women and disabled people to participate in politics. This includes the recently announced fund to support disabled candidates to seek electoral office, to meet the costs of campaigning, primarily for the forthcoming English local elections in 2019.

Ultimately, parties are responsible for their candidate selection and should lead the way in improving diverse representation. Many are already doing so.