7. To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what provision she plans to make in the Equality Bill for the use of positive action to redress inequalities at work. (261700)

The Equality Bill will broaden the range of voluntary positive action measures which can be taken by employers or service providers to the full extent allowed by European law.

For example, employers will, in some circumstances, be able to take under-representation or disadvantage into account when selecting for appointment or promotion between two or more equally suitable candidates, if they choose to do so.

The new provisions will be backed by comprehensive and authoritative guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.