Cabinet Office Ministerial Responsibilities

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Government Equalities Office

The Government Equalities Office (GEO) is responsible for the Government’s overall strategy and priorities on equality issues. Its work includes: leading the development of a more integrated approach on equality across Government to increase opportunities for all; taking forward the Minister for Women’s priorities; taking forward work on the Equality Bill; sponsoring the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Women’s National Commission; and supporting the work of the National Equality Panel.

The Department also leads on policy on gender equality and sexual orientation and is responsible for integrating work on disability, age, race and religion or belief into the overall equality framework. The lead on race and faith policy remains with DCLG while the lead on disability legislation and policy and on age policy remains with DWP. Some eloyment equality legislation eg age, sexual orientation and religion or belief remains with BIS.

Contact information

• Address: 9th Floor, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU
  
• Website: www.equalities.gov.uk [External website]
• Telephone: 0303 444 1204
• Fax: 0303 444 3303
• Email: enquiries@geo.gsi.gov.uk

Parliamentary Branch

• Provided by the Cabinet Office

Correspondence Section

• Tel: 0303 444 1204
• Fax: 0303 444 3303
• Email: geo.corres@geo.gsi.gov.uk

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Ministers

Harriet Harman QC

Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal and Minister for Women and Equality: The Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC

Leads on:

• The Minister for Women and Equality has overall responsibility for the equality agenda

Also Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal

Private Office to Harriet Harman

Maria Eagle

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for Women and Equality: Maria Eagle

Leads on:

• Progress on the Minister for Women’s priorities including:
• tackling violence against women
• iroving the way we deal with women who commit crimes
• increasing representation of Black and Minority Ethnic Women
• Supporting families
• Sponsorship of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, Women and Work
• Commission and the Women’s National Commission
  

Also Parliamentary under-Secretary of State for Justice

Private Office to Maria Eagle

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State: Michael Foster DL (Hastings and Rye)

Leads on:

• Support on the Equality Bill
• Speaker’s conference, public appointments, Equality PSA and Trade Union Equality Reps
• Support on the National Equality Bill
• Support on EC directive
• Stakeholder relations
• Written Parliamentary Questions and correspondence

Private Office to Michael Foster

Solicitor General: Vera Baird QC,

Vera Baird

Leads on:

• The Equality Bill

See also responsibilities at the Attorney General's Office

Private Office to Vera Baird QC

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Private Offices

Private Office to The Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC

• Telephone: 020 7276 1005
• Fax: 020 7276 1006
• Email: ministerforw&a;e@commonsleader.x.gsi.gov.uk

Private Office to Maria Eagle

• Telephone: 020 3334 3686
• Fax: 020 3334 3692
• Email: Dileeni.Daniel-Selvaratnam@justice.gsi.gov.uk

Private Office to Michael Foster (Hastings)

• Telephone: 020 7276 3161
• Fax: 020 7276 1367
• Email:  ps.equality@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
  

Private Office to Vera Baird QC

• Telephone: 020 7271 2406
• Fax: 020 7271 2432
• Email: geo.submissions@attorneygeneral.gsi.gov.uk

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