The gender pay gap is complex and arises from many factors such as differences in men and women's labour market experience (e.g. as a result of women taking time out to look after children), skills and education, occupational segregation, lack of quality part-time work (especially for women returning from maternity leave), historical culture, gender stereotyping and discrimination.
In 2004, the Prime Minister set up the Women and Work Commission to conduct an independent review to examine the causes of the gender pay gap. The Commission looked at the range of published research and other evidence on this issue, and produced a report in February 2006 containing 40 recommendations to tackle the gender pay gap. The Government accepted, or partially accepted, all but one of the recommendations aimed at Government and we are making good progress in implementing them.
Closing the pay gap between men and women is a key priority for the Government, as I made clear in my statement to Parliament on Priorities for the Ministers for Women. Closing the pay gap is now one of the indicators in the new Equalities Public Service Agreement.