The Government's determination to continue the fight for gender equality and to build on the achievements made over the last 25 years were outlined today by, Advocate General, Lynda Clark. I remember well the passage of the Sex Discrimination Act in 1975, and of the Equal Pay Act, and how they have helped to change attitudes and aspirations.
Women now play a more active role in public life.
There is now a clear recognition across society that discrimination is wrong, both morally and economically, and cannot be sustained. Thirty years ago that was not the case. Despite progress some inequalities still remain and this Government is taking, and will continue to take, action to fight against them. We have taken direct action to help women through initiatives such as the National Minimum Wage, the Working Families Tax Credit and the New Deal. We have also improved rights for Scotland's 520,000 part-time workers, around 80 per cent of whom are women.