Written questions by Wood.

With reference to the consultation document on ethnic and disability pay gap reporting, published on 18 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including a question to consultation respondents on the costs to employers of the new measures.

The public consultation seeks views on the proposed approach to mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting in order to inform the drafting of the legislation.We are separately engaging with a wide range of organisations, including employers, and gathering evidence in a more systematic manner on the likely costs and benefits of the proposed reporting requirements. This work will inform the impact assessment that will be published alongside the draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill.

What the Government’s policy is on the scope of the public sector equality duty in relation to private sector organisations that provide goods and services to the public sector.

The scope of the Public Sector Equality Duty (the PSED) is set out in the Equality Act 2010 (the Act). It extends to all public authorities listed in Schedule 19 of the Act and all parties carrying out public functions. This came into force in April 2011 and includes private sector and voluntary organisations.The PSED requires organisations in scope to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between different people.The government remains committed to upholding the PSED and ensuring that all parties exercising public functions comply with its provisions.

What steps she is to support equality of opportunity for young white working class males.

Whoever you are, wherever you come from, Britain should be a country where hard work means you can get on in life. Our work in the Opportunity Mission aims to break the link between background and success to ensure all children, including those from white working-class backgrounds, are able to achieve and thrive today so they can succeed and flourish tomorrow.

Whether she plans to commence the caste provisions in the Equality Act 2010 as amended.

We are currently considering our position on caste discrimination. We will announce our plans in due course.