UK’s G7 Presidency: Role of Women

Julie Marson (Hertford and Stortford) (Con)
What steps the Government are taking to promote the role of women during the UK’s G7 presidency.

The Minister for Women and Equalities (Elizabeth Truss)
As part of the G7, we will be hosting the gender equality advisory council. Led by Sarah Sands, it will help women build back better across the world, including on ending violence against women, women’s economic empowerment, and education for women and girls.

Julie Marson [V]
I thank my right hon. Friend for her response. Does she agree that flexible working is key, not just to open up more opportunities for more people but to address the UK’s perennial productivity puzzle?

Elizabeth Truss
My hon. Friend is right: flexible working should be the standard offer from employers. Recent Government Equalities Office research shows that there are 30% more applicants where jobs are advertised as flexible. That particularly brings benefits to women and those who live outside the major cities, and it can help us level up our country and make it more productive.