Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to meet its public sector equality duty.

Following the creation of the Department in early 2023, we are embedding PSED principles across areas of decision making. For example, PSED is considered as part of policy development and PSED considerations are mandated as part of our senior decision-making processes.

Our approach builds on previous work carried out by the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Cabinet Office (CO).

In accordance with the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties and Public Authorities) Regulations 2017, we will build on existing equality objectives from former departments, drawing on data and evidence to guide a strategic approach to our equalities work.

We commit to publishing equality objectives in 2024, outlining priorities for how we carry out our public functions (as a public authority) and how we treat our staff (as an employer).