To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she expects to publish her Department’s gender equality scheme. (101480)

We expect to publish my Department’s gender equality scheme by 30 April 2007.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that private organisations contracted to work (a) in her Department and (b) for non-departmental public bodies and Executive agencies for which her Department is responsible are aware of their duties under gender equality legislation when exercising public functions on behalf of public bodies. (101507)

Work will be undertaken with those organisations contracted to my Department, non-departmental public bodies and agencies to ensure that they are aware of their obligations as a consequence of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Public Authorities)(Statutory Duties) Order 2006 (No. 2930) before that legislation comes into force.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to carry out gender impact assessments of her Department’s major policy developments and new legislation. (101539)

From April 2007, my Department will carry out Gender Impact Assessments of major policy developments and new legislation in line with the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Public Authorities) (Statutory Duties) Order 2006 (No. 2930). We will refer to the Equal Opportunities Commission’s (EOC) Code of Practice on the Gender Equality Duty and their specific guidance when available.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) her Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies for which she is responsible are taking steps to meet the requirements of the forthcoming duty on public bodies (i) to end unlawful discrimination and harassment and (ii) to promote equality between women and men. (101555)

In order to ensure better performance on the general gender equality duty which will require public authorities to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination and harassment and promote equality of opportunity between women and men, my Department will be taking the steps outlined in the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Public Authorities) (Statutory Duties) Order 2006 (No. 2930) which should come into force on 6 April 2007.