8. What plans does the First Minister have to close the pay gap between women and men in Wales? OAQ(5)0270(FM)

There is still a long way to go before we close the pay gap. It remains a priority. We do continue to tackle the underlying issues that create gender pay inequality, and those plans are to be found in our Welsh-specific equality duties and our strategic equality plan objectives.

I thank the First Minister for that response. Figures released from the Fawcett Society last week show that the full-time hourly gender pay gap in Wales is 7.1 per cent, which is actually lower than the UK average, but it is against a background of lower wages in Wales. On a UK-wide basis, the gender pay gap means that women are effectively working for free from 10 November, when you compare their wages with men’s, until the end of the year. So, what further could we do to try to tackle this glaring inequality?

We are proud supporters of Chwarae Teg, who, of course, work tirelessly to challenge gender stereotypes, occupational segregation, and to promote modern workplace practices through, for example, the Agile Nation 2 programme and campaigns such as Not Just for Boys, but we are also continuing to challenge gender stereotypes. We held Girls Make a Difference conferences in 2014 and 2015, encouraging girls to aspire and to achieve in Wales.

What action or engagement is the Welsh Government taking following the new Equality and Human Rights Commission report estimating the financial cost of pregnancy and maternity-related discrimination and disadvantage, which found that UK businesses are losing nearly £280 million each year as a result of women being forced out of their jobs by pregnancy and maternity discrimination in work?

It’s a matter for the UK Government to deal with, given the fact that we’re talking here about employment rights, but, nevertheless, any loss of talent to any business is something to be regretted. That means, of course, ensuring that, where there is any discrimination on the basis of maternity leave, that is challenged and dealt with by the employment tribunals.