Flexible working and equal pay mentioned in today's Queen's Speech

The new coalition government set out its legislative agenda today in a speech delivered by the Queen at the state opening of parliament. From an equality and diversity point of view the speech included the following reference; "My Government will remove barriers to flexible working and promote equal pay".

Last week the Coalition Government  announced its outline equality policies. These included the fact that it will; extend the right to flexible working to all employees; it will promote equal pay and take a range of measures to end discrimination in the workplace; and it will promote gender equality on the boards of listed companies. Below are a list of the priorities it identified:

• It will promote equal pay and take a range of measures to end discrimination in the workplace.
• It will extend the right to request flexible working to all employees, consulting with business on how best to do so.
• It will undertake a fair pay review in the public sector to implement its proposed ‘20 times’ pay multiple.
• It will look to promote gender equality on the boards of listed companies.
• It will promote improved community relations and opportunities for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, including by providing internships for under¬represented minorities in every Whitehall department and funding a targeted national enterprise mentoring scheme for BAME people who want to start a business.
• It will stop the deportation of asylum seekers who have had to leave particular countries because their sexual orientation or gender identification puts them at proven risk of imprisonment, torture or execution.
• It will use its relationships with other countries to push for unequivocal support for gay rights and for UK civil partnerships to be recognised internationally.