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14 May 2009 : Column 1014W—continued
Minority Representation
6. John Barrett: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the representation of minorities in Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [275281]
Maria Eagle: We need Parliament to reflect all sections of society. Ethnic minorities and disabled people are grossly under-represented in Parliament. There are 15 ethnic minority MPs when proportionally there should be around 60. The imbalance is greater for ethnic minority women. There are only two. Action taken to redress this under-representation includes:
Using the Equality Bill to extend the time in which political parties can use women-only shortlists to 2030
Establishing a Speaker's Conference to consider the under representation of women, ethnic minorities and disabled people in the House of Commons.
Trafficked Women
7. Mr. Bone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on levels of funding for non-governmental organisations working to assist trafficked women who have been raped and who are unable to obtain assistance from other sources. [275282]
Maria Eagle: The Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking, of which I am a member, regularly discusses this subject.
As part of the UK’s commitment to implementing the Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Beings, the Government have awarded £3.7 million over the next two financial years to the POPPY Project. This grant will be used for national support services for victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation and domestic servitude. The Government have also implemented a National Referral Mechanism to help facilitate victims of trafficking into the appropriate support and protection.
Equal Pay
8. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the trade union movement on equal pay. [275283]
Maria Eagle: My colleagues and I have met many trade union representatives in the run up to launching of the Equality Bill. Our discussions have often included equal pay issues. The Government and the trade unions have a shared interest in promoting equality of pay between women and men.
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