Labour attacks 'discrimination' at Department for Education
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Version 0 of 1. An increasing number of Department for Education staff believe they are victims of discrimination at work, according to figures unearthed by Labour from a civil service staff survey released last week. The number of civil servants in Michael Gove's department who say they have personally experienced discrimination has increased from 10 to 30 since 2010. Those who said they suffered discrimination owing to caring responsibilities – often undertaken by women – has increased from 13 to 29 . The figures have been shown as proof of a discriminatory attitude across the coalition government. Tristram Hunt, the shadow education secretary, said the findings should be seen as part of a wider problem. "David Cameron's ambivalence towards women in politics is reflected in the composition of the cabinet, the number of female Tory MPs standing down from parliament and now – it is revealed – within the Department for Education," he said. "This indifference will not be lost on women voters." The number of people in the department who claimed discrimination owing to their social or educational background has increased from 15 to 24. In each case, the number of reports in these areas is increasing year on year at the DfE – 2010 to 2013. The DfE has cut funding on equality and diversity from £327,280 in 2009 to 2010 to £184,953 last year. Labour has seized on the issue of sexism at the heart of government in recent weeks. Ed Miliband has accused David Cameron of running the country like an old boys' network after he turned up to prime minister's questions with an entirely male front bench. He also accused the coalition of failing women across the UK by allowing the pay gap between men and women to widen for the first time in five years. The Liberal Democrats have been fighting accusations of sexism within the party following the rows over Lord Rennard who has denied any wrongdoing following claims that he harassed a number of activists, and the Lib Dem elected MP Mike Hancock, who is fighting a High Court claim that he sexually assaulted a vulnerable constituent. A DfE spokesman said: "Discrimination of any form in the workplace is unacceptable. We encourage all staff to report any concerns and there are a number of ways they can do this." |