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Debate: role of women in global economic crisis

11 March 2009 (updated on 22 April 2010)

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Baroness Gould of Potternewton, Chair of the Women’s National Commission (Labour), will call attention to the role of women in the global economic crisis in a debate this Thursday, 12 March, in the House of Lords

Figures released last week by the Office for National Statistics to mark International Women’s Day show that the recent economic downturn is affecting women’s employment opportunities in different ways to men’s.

In discussing women’s roles in the economic crisis, the debate will include contributions from experts on employment, sociology, economics and women’s rights.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, Leader of the House of Lords, will speak for the Government as spokesperson for Equalities.

Members scheduled to take part include:

  • Baroness Morris of Bolton (Conservative); Opposition spokesperson for Women
  • Lord Addington (Liberal Democrat); Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Work and Social Services/ Pensions
  • Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen (Labour); former member of the Equal Opportunities Commission
  • Lord Giddens (Labour); Sociologist
  • Lord Bates (Conservative); Opposition spokesperson for Communities and Local Government
  • Baroness Thomas of Walliswood (Liberal Democrat); spokesperson for women’s issues and equality
  • Baroness Howe of Idlicote (Crossbench); former deputy chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission
  • Baroness Afshar (Crossbench); founder member and chair of the Muslim Women’s Network, former deputy chair of the British Council’s Gender and Development Task Force 2001-03
  • Baroness Crawley (Labour); former Chair of the Women's National Commission
  • Baroness Gardner of Parkes (Conservative); President of the Married Women's Association and former member of the Department of Employment’s Advisory Committee on Women’s Employment
  • Lord Henley (Conservative); Opposition spokesperson for Justice
  • Baroness Hogg (Conservative); former Governor of Centre for Economic Policy Research and former economic journalist for publications including The Economist and The Sunday Times
  • Lord McNally (Liberal Democrat); Liberal Democrat Leader and spokesperson for Constitutional Affairs
  • Baroness Perry of Southwark (Conservative); former member of the Economic and Social Research Council
  • Baroness Scott of Needham Market (Liberal Democrat); Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Communities and Local Government
  • Baroness Seccombe (Conservative); Opposition spokesperson for Justice
  • Baroness Walmsley (Liberal Democrat); Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Children, Schools and Families and ambassador for the NSPCC

Further information

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