Government may consider 'radical' options on equal pay

A leaked Government memo, published in full by the Guardian, has revealed that the Government may consider an information-sharing website on equal pay.

According to the Guardian, the document, marked “restricted – policy”, was written by Number 10 officials and circulated to Government departments this week.

The document states: “We know from a range of polls that women are significantly more negative about the Government than men”, going on to say: “We are clear that there are a number of policies we have pursued as a Government which are seen as having hit women, or their interests, disproportionately.”

The policies listed as examples include public sector pay and pensions, "particularly as contrasted with – mostly male – bankers, in the popular narrative".

Proposed action points include: “Consider radically different options on equal pay – for instance encouraging a third party to set up a pay-sharing website (you enter some details and your own pay, and in return you can see information about others).” The document says this approach “gets around industry concerns about the costs of reporting on pay, but still gives good, transparent information.”

It also suggests holding a summit at Number 10 for women in business and making “far more effort to celebrate women in business and industry.”