AQW 15984/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 08/03/2021
Answered On Date: 01/04/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline (i) the current policies in place to ensure gender equality in pay and opportunities throughout the public and private sectors; and (ii) their assessment of the success of these policies to date.

Answer:

Policy responsibility for gender matters now rests with the Department for Communities (DfC) following the reorganisation of departments in 2016. DfC is currently working to develop a new Gender Strategy.

Section 19 of the Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 allocated responsibility to the Executive Office for the reporting of gender pay differentials and the development of a strategy and action plan to eliminate gender pay differences.

The timing of the Employment Act and the subsequent absence of an Assembly prevented the allocation of these gender pay provisions to DfC. However a Transfer of Functions Order to transfer responsibility for them from TEO to DfC is currently in preparation.