Select committee: Treasury Committee
Conclusion 1
Sixth Report - Sexism in the City
Published 8 Mar 2024
Paragraph 5
Addressed to HM Treasury
Treasury Committee Sexism in the City All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
Our inquiry has revealed incremental improvements for women working in financial services on certain metrics, such as the proportion of women holding senior roles. Overall, there has been a disappointing lack of progress on sexual harassment and bullying, including serious sexual misconduct. Despite the best efforts of some far too little progress has been made and serious problems which should have been rooted out still persist. Significant concern remains, however, about the overall culture prevalent within the sector that holds back progress for women. While this Report deals with various challenges experienced by women in financial services, whether related to pay, harassment or maternity leave, as examples, it is this cultural deficit that allows them all to persist. Culture is also the most difficult area to seek to reform.
From: Treasury Committee, Sixth Report - Sexism in the City (HC 240), paragraph 5, 8 March 2024
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 14 May 2024 (deadline 8 May 2024).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.HM Treasury, the PRA and the FCA each welcome the Committee's report, with HM Treasury agreeing with some recommendations but declining others, and the regulators saying they will consider the recommendations on data and targets as they finalise policy.
- On extending the Women in Finance Charter beyond senior representation, HM Treasury agrees a talent pipeline matters but is "unpersuaded" that expanding the Charter's scope is "the right way" to drive change, citing the burden on firms.
- On pay gap reporting, HM Treasury agrees that reporting alone will not reduce the gap, but believes it is "too soon to make changes" and does not consider mandatory action plans "fair or effective".
- On salary bands in job adverts, HM Treasury does "not believe that moving directly to legislation is appropriate at this time", saying it makes sense to first learn from other countries' experience.
- On data reporting and target setting, the PRA and the FCA each say they will consider the Committee's recommendations alongside consultation responses when finalising policy, and the PRA says "no decisions have yet been made".