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
7 results
10
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 43
The Department for Work and Pensions must urgently conduct or commission research to develop its...
Recommendation
The Department for Work and Pensions must urgently conduct or commission research to develop its understanding of the gendered impact of Universal Credit design, including the wait for the first payment; the single household payment structure; joint eligibility assessment; and …
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Government Response Summary
The government discusses "A Plan for Jobs" supporting unemployed people, including women, through schemes like Kickstart and Sector-based Work Academy Programmes, and cross-government collaboration to support UC claimants with barriers like childcare. However, it does not commit to conducting or commissioning research into the gendered impact of Universal Credit design elements as recommended.
Government Equalities Office
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19
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 79
We recommend that the Government establish quotas for women in its Kickstart scheme.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government establish quotas for women in its Kickstart scheme.
Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses gender pay gap reporting regulations and extended deadlines, failing to address the recommendation regarding establishing quotas for women in the Kickstart scheme.
Government Equalities Office
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20
Recommendation
Not Addressed
We recommend that DWP introduce training for Jobcentre Plus work coaches on supporting applicants into...
Recommendation
We recommend that DWP introduce training for Jobcentre Plus work coaches on supporting applicants into gender ‘atypical’ jobs. (Paragraph 80) Pregnancy and Maternity Discrimination
Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses support for disabled people in employment, the voluntary reporting framework for disability, and the ethnicity pay reporting consultation, but does not address the recommendation for DWP to introduce training for Jobcentre Plus work coaches on supporting applicants into gender 'atypical' jobs.
Government Equalities Office
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21
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 92
We are gravely concerned by evidence detailing potentially unlawful and discriminatory practices towards pregnant women...
Recommendation
We are gravely concerned by evidence detailing potentially unlawful and discriminatory practices towards pregnant women and those on maternity leave during the pandemic. This should have been better anticipated by the government at the beginning of the pandemic and preventative …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses support for disabled people in employment and the status of ethnicity pay reporting consultations, but it completely fails to address the recommendation regarding discrimination against pregnant women and new mothers.
Government Equalities Office
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22
Recommendation
Not Addressed
We urge the Government to introduce legislation in this Parliamentary session to extend redundancy protection...
Recommendation
We urge the Government to introduce legislation in this Parliamentary session to extend redundancy protection to pregnant women and new mothers. The Government must also publish a cross-departmental strategy, following consultation with stakeholders, for dealing with pregnancy and maternity discrimination. …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response details the collection and publication of redundancy data by the Insolvency Service and ONS, but it does not address the recommendation to introduce legislation for extending redundancy protection for pregnant women and new mothers, or to publish a cross-departmental strategy on maternity discrimination.
Government Equalities Office
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26
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 124
We are concerned that the Government Equalities Office (GEO) did not anticipate how inequalities were...
Conclusion
We are concerned that the Government Equalities Office (GEO) did not anticipate how inequalities were likely to be exacerbated by the pandemic and ensure that it influenced the policy response, including in relation to employment, welfare, childcare and pregnancy and …
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Government Response Summary
The government details the Equality Hub's goal to ensure evidence-based measures, considering various characteristics and data gaps through the Equality Data Programme and ONS Inclusive Data Taskforce. It also references gender pay gap reporting, but does not directly address the committee's specific concerns about the GEO's failure to anticipate and influence policy during the pandemic.
Government Equalities Office
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27
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 125
We were concerned to hear the Minister for Equalities repeatedly refer to considering the effects...
Conclusion
We were concerned to hear the Minister for Equalities repeatedly refer to considering the effects of policies “in the round” in response to questions about the gendered impact of the Government’s policies. We are deeply concerned that a GEO Minister …
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Government Response Summary
The government details the Equality Hub's goal to base fairness measures on evidence, considering various characteristics and data gaps through the Equality Data Programme and ONS Inclusive Data Taskforce. It also mentions supporting gender pay gap reporting, but does not directly address the committee's specific concern about a Minister appearing dismissive of the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Government Equalities Office
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