Fifth report: Unequal impact? Coronavirus and the gendered economic impact
Select Committee
Women and Equalities Committee
HC 385
9 February 2021
Government response
First Special Report - Unequal impact? Coronavirus and the gendered economic impact: Government response to the Committee’s fifth report of Session 2019–21 · published 14 May 2021
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
2
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Para 17
We recommend that schemes to support employees and the self-employed should be informed by an...
Recommendation
We recommend that schemes to support employees and the self-employed should be informed by an Equality Impact Assessment, drawing on evidence of existing inequalities. The Government must conduct and publish Equality Impact Assessments of the CJRS and the SEISS alongside …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation, agreeing that policies should be informed by evidence on inequalities and stating that advice to Ministers already includes such analysis in line with the Public Sector Equality Duty. However, it explicitly rejects the call to conduct and publish Equality Impact Assessments for CJRS and SEISS, citing the need for confidential policy advice.
Government Equalities Office
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8
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
The Government should publish the draft Employment Bill by the end of June 2021.
Recommendation
The Government should publish the draft Employment Bill by the end of June 2021. The draft Bill must take into account the recommendations made throughout this report. (Paragraph 31) Benefits and Social Security
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepted the recommendation, committing to bringing forward an Employment Bill when parliamentary time allows (deferring the deadline) and considering the report's recommendations as part of the reforms.
Government Equalities Office
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11
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Para 46
We recommend the Department for Work and Pensions commit to maintaining the increases in support...
Recommendation
We recommend the Department for Work and Pensions commit to maintaining the increases in support that have been provided during the pandemic until the end of the pandemic, including the £20 increase in standard allowance for Universal Credit.
Government Response Summary
The government accepted in part, committing to maintain the £20 per week increase to Universal Credit for a further six months, and providing a one-off £500 payment for Working Tax Credits claimants.
Government Equalities Office
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24
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Para 115
Given this backdrop, many childcare providers were vulnerable to the economic turmoil generated by the...
Recommendation
Given this backdrop, many childcare providers were vulnerable to the economic turmoil generated by the pandemic. The Government’s financial support for the sector has not been sufficiently generous nor has it been targeted to the specific needs of providers. Even …
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Government Response Summary
The government highlights over £3.5 billion annually for early education entitlements, a £44 million investment for 2021-22 for childcare providers, a pledged £1 billion fund, and a £220 million Holiday Activities and Food Programme. It states it is continuing to work with the early years sector to ensure sufficient safe and affordable childcare in the short and long term.
Government Equalities Office
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30
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Para 130
We recommend the Government require all departments to collect and publish data disaggregated by sex...
Recommendation
We recommend the Government require all departments to collect and publish data disaggregated by sex and protected characteristics in a way that facilitates reporting and analysis on how, for example, gender, ethnicity, disability, age and socio-economic status interact, and can …
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Government Response Summary
The Government outlined its Equality Data Programme and ONS Inclusive Data Taskforce to improve data collection and understanding. It also committed to requiring departments to publish specific and measurable equality objectives in their Outcome Delivery Plans.
Government Equalities Office
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32
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Para 136
We recommend that gender pay gap reporting be urgently reinstated, with reporting for the financial...
Recommendation
We recommend that gender pay gap reporting be urgently reinstated, with reporting for the financial years 2019/20 and 2020/21 required in April 2021.
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepted, stating that gender pay gap reporting was never legally suspended but enforcement was. The EHRC extended the 2020/21 reporting deadline to October 2021, rather than the recommended April 2021.
Government Equalities Office
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