Hansard

I have a few comments to make. I support the order and the principles and intentions behind it. However, I have some concerns about its implementation, given that there is no financial memorandum attached to it. The order puts a lot of responsibilities on local authorities, but we know that there are massive outstanding issues with achieving equal pay, because of the financial consequences to local authorities. I suppose that it is about joined-up government. On the one hand, the order has been laid, but on the other hand, we still do not have specific moneys allocated via the budget process to implement equal pay. I am concerned that there is a bit of downward pressure on public bodies to level pay down, rather than levelling it up, which I have misgivings about. My concerns are about the implementation of the order, rather than the principle behind it.The duty is on public bodies. However, there is a big gap in the legislation in respect of duties on private employers. I understand the complexities of the legislative framework, given that employment legislation is reserved to Westminster. Nevertheless, the gender pay gap in the private sector is even greater than it is in the public sector and, from a policy point of view, the private sector should not escape.