GENDER PAY GAP IN THE CIVIL SERVICE

Early day motion 1757, tabled 6 March 2006 by Julie Morgan (Labour). Signed by 101 members.

That this House notes with concern that women in the Civil Service earn on average 25 per cent. less than men, meaning that Government employees suffer greater pay inequality than the national average; believes that to address this the Government must consider introducing department-wide equal pay audits to identify pay inequality, and a national pay framework to provide equal pay for work of equal value; further believes that the Government should make available better flexible working options, and pay and promotion systems that do not discriminate against those who choose to work flexibly; notes that the Treasury's stricter pay regime for the Civil Service has jeopardised many of the pay systems put in place to address structural equal pay problems; and therefore calls on the Treasury actively to encourage departments to include business cases to address equal pay problems as part of their pay remit submissions, and to provide additional funding to support departmental action.

Signatures by party: Labour 66, Liberal Democrat 16, Conservative 8, DUP 4, Plaid Cymru 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Respect 1, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.