To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has (a) to offer financial support to local government for equal pay between men and women and (b) to promote equal pay in local government; and if she will make a statement. (154408)

Equal pay is not a new pressure on local government and we expect local authorities to manage it proactively and affordably. We have given local authorities greater flexibility in dealing with this pressure by amending the capital finance regulations, and have also revised the process of equal pay capitalisation. On 28 September I announced the allocation of £500 million equal pay capitalisation directions to 46 authorities, giving them the financial flexibility to make one-off back-payments to thousands of employees—mostly women.

Local authorities, as employers, are responsible for meeting their statutory requirements, including the Gender Equality Duty and their obligations under the Equal Pay Act.