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Select committee: Women and Equalities Committee

5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repeat

HC 573 Published 4 June 2025

Women and Equalities Committee Misogyny in music: follow up Report on parliament.uk ↗

At a glance9 recommendations and 2 conclusions · Government response published 10 September 2025 (deadline 4 September 2025)

The government's response

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government says it "remains firmly committed to addressing misogyny in the music industry" and is "carefully considering the recommendations", responding on employment law, NDAs, CIISA and maternity pay.

  • On freelancers, it says Employment Rights Bill clauses 20, 21 and 23 will already cover some people who describe themselves as freelancers, as the Equality Act definition of employment is broad, but protection "will depend on their specific circumstances" and is for a tribunal to determine.
  • On section 14 of the Equality Act 2010, it commits to strengthening protections against dual discrimination and is "considering responses" to its Call for Evidence "before we say more about next steps". No date is given.
  • On NDAs, it points to Clause 24 of the Employment Rights Bill, passed at Lords Report Stage, which will void provisions preventing workers speaking out about relevant harassment or discrimination. It "will consult" on secondary legislation setting criteria for a valid 'excepted NDA'.
  • On Maternity Allowance, it says SMP and MA "are not directly comparable" and does not commit to alignment. It points to the Parental Leave and Pay Review, launched on 1 July, as "the right route" to consider the issue.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Sources

Recommendations and conclusions 11

  1. 1
    Overwhelming case for government to implement measures for women in music industry. Recommendation · addressed to Government Equalities Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    One year on from its publication, and having heard from key witnesses, we find that there remains an overwhelming case for the Government to implement the measures set out in our predecessors’ report to capitalise on the pockets of momentum that do exist in the industry and help produce lasting change for women in music. (Conclusion, Paragraph 10) Employment law and the Equality Act 2010
  2. 2
    Amend Equality Act 2010 to protect freelancers from third-party discrimination and harassment. Recommendation · addressed to Government Equalities Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    The Government should amend the Equality Act 2010 so that the protections relating to the prevention of third-party discrimination and harassment clearly include freelancers and those who are standing in (‘depping’) for another musician. (Recommendation, Paragraph 16)
  3. 3
    Amend Employment Rights Bill to extend sexual harassment prevention duty to freelancers. Recommendation · addressed to Government Equalities Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    The Government should amend the proposed duty on employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment (clause 19 of the Employment Rights Bill) to ensure freelancers are within its scope. (Recommendation, Paragraph 17)
  4. 4
    Amend Employment Rights Bill to extend third-party harassment protection rights to freelancers. Recommendation · addressed to Government Equalities Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    The Government should amend the proposed new rights to protection from third-party harassment (clause 20 of the Employment Rights Bill) to ensure that they extend to freelancers. (Recommendation, Paragraph 18)
  5. 5
    Bring Section 14 of the Equality Act 2010 into force by next parliamentary session. Recommendation · addressed to Government Equalities Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    The Government should fulfil its commitment to bring section 14 of the Equality Act 2010 into force and do so by the end of the next parliamentary session at the latest. (Recommendation, Paragraph 24)
  6. 6
    Prohibit non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements in cases of sexual misconduct, harassment, and discrimination. Recommendation · addressed to Government Equalities Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    The Government should urgently bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit the use of non-disclosure and other forms of confidentiality agreements in cases involving (a) sexual abuse, sexual harassment or sexual misconduct; (b) bullying or harassment not falling within (a), and (c) discrimination relating to a protected characteristic. Doing so would demonstrate decisive leadership by the Government that the silencing of victims of abuse will no longer be tolerated. (Recommendation, Paragraph 33) 26 Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority
  7. 7
    Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority requires legal provisions and sustainable funding to operate effectively. Conclusion · addressed to Government Equalities Office Conclusion (the committee's words)
    We support the creation of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA). Crucially, it will be a single, recognisable body that anyone in the industry can turn to for support and advice. It is well placed to help effect cultural change in the industry once it is fully operational. It can only do so, however, if underpinned by the necessary legal provisions and sustainable funding. (Conclusion, Paragraph 49)
  8. 8
    Industry must provide financial and ideological support for CIISA to operate effectively. Conclusion · addressed to Government Equalities Office Conclusion (the committee's words)
    We agree with the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s conclusion that, for it to operate effectively, the industry must see supporting CIISA financially and ideologically to be a fundamental part of operating in the UK. (Conclusion, Paragraph 50)
  9. 9
    Urge Government to accept CIISA funding recommendation and explore options including an industry levy. Recommendation · addressed to Government Equalities Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    We urge the Government to accept the recommendation from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that: “All parts of the creative industries under CIISA’s remit should commit to unconditional, long-term funding within six months. In the meantime, the Government should explore all options for funding CIISA in case the industry does not deliver a voluntary solution, including having industries under CIISA’s remit be subject to a levy to fund its work.” (Recommendation, Paragraph 51)
  10. 10
    Provide Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority with legal assurances for its crucial work. Recommendation · addressed to Government Equalities Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    CIISA has been several years in development. It is therefore surprising that discussions with Government over the necessary legal framework for it to operate effectively are still ongoing. The Government needs to demonstrate its full support for CIISA and get on with providing it with the legal assurances it needs to undertake its crucial work. (Recommendation, Paragraph 52) Maternity and the music industry
  11. 11
    Amend Employment Rights Bill to align Maternity Allowance with Statutory Maternity Pay. Recommendation · addressed to Government Equalities Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    The Employment Rights Bill should be amended to bring Maternity Allowance into line with Statutory Maternity Pay. This would remove the inherent unfairness that means that, during maternity leave, women in employment can undertake unlimited self-employed work but restricts the ability for freelancers to do so for any more than their 10 keeping in touch days. (Recommendation, Paragraph 60) 27