The UK’s Minister for Women and Equalities, the Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, and Founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, Michael R. Bloomberg, today announced a new partnership between the UK Government and Bloomberg L.P. to improve reporting and transparency around gender equality in the workplace.

Speaking at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum in New York, Mordaunt and Bloomberg outlined a shared commitment to incorporate six data points from the UK Government’s gender pay gap metrics into the global reporting framework of the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI).

UK Minister for Women and Equalities, Penny Mordaunt said:

This partnership with Bloomberg shows the growing global commitment to transparency and gender equality at work. Some of our biggest UK companies like Barclays, BT, Deloitte and Sky have already taken action, showing that gender equality is not just a moral imperative, it is good business.

Every human endeavour depends upon inclusion. So that we can all thrive in the workplace, no matter who we are.

Founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, Michael R. Bloomberg said:

I want to thank the U.K. for its partnership and great work ensuring women and men have equal opportunities. This index highlights companies that are leading the way in addressing gender disparities – and what steps they are taking to do that – which can set an example for others.

Since 2016, the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index has provided investors with standardized, comparable data on a range of social factors related to gender equality in the workplace. The 2018 GEI includes 104 companies headquartered in 24 countries and regions.

Companies that have demonstrated their support of the GEI and a commitment to disclosure include: Anheuser-Busch InBev, Bank of America, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Ford Motor Company, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Mastercard, Pearson and Unilever.

Eligible companies are scored based on data available in public filings and additional information collected through 67 questions as part of the GEI survey, a comprehensive overview of company statistics, employee policies, external engagement and gender-conscious product offerings.

Beginning in 2019, the GEI survey will incorporate six data points from the UK Government’s pay gap methodology, including the percentage of men and women in each quartile of payroll, and median and mean gender pay gap. First implemented in 2017, the introduction of new rules mandated organizations of a certain size to disclose employee pay statistics. Initial results illustrate the scale of the challenge, with 3 in 4 company reports indicating men are paid more than women.

In addition, Bloomberg L.P and the UK Government will work together to:

• Improve transparency on a global scale and build consensus with companies around the key metrics and drivers of gender equality in an organization;
• Create a clear measure for investors, consumers and employees to evaluate gender equality;
• Improve transparency of gender equality data on a global scale;
• Promote and expand membership of the Gender-Equality Index as an instrumental tool to transform economic gender equality.

Kiersten Barnet, Manager, Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, said:

This partnership is an encouraging step towards higher levels of gender equality disclosure and accountability. While gender pay is just one of the issues to overcome in the fight for parity, offering employers a standardized framework to measure their progress reduces the burden of reporting and creates a common global language for discussing gender equality.

Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, Director and Chief Executive Officer of BNP Paribas, said:

Gender equality is at the heart of BNP Paribas’ company engagement strategy. All the management team at BNP Paribas is fully committed to fighting gender bias. Large companies can contribute to a better world by taking HR decisions that push the boundaries. They can also have a strong influence through their business decisions. Data is essential to help them measure and accelerate their progress in gender equality.

David Solomon, President and COO of Goldman Sachs, said:

A diverse workforce across all dimensions is essential to our ability to best serve our clients. We are committed to increasing the representation of women at every level of the firm and are pleased to support the UK Government and Bloomberg’s joint mission to encourage greater transparency around gender equality in the workplace, and to help us measure our progress.

Notes to Editors

Contacts

Veronika Henze, Bloomberg: +1-646-324-1596; vhenze@bloomberg.net

Jill Watanabe, Bloomberg: +1-212-617-1610; jwatanabe11@bloomberg.net

Natalie Harland, Bloomberg UK: +44-20-35258820; nharland1@bloomberg.net

Alice Booth, Government Equalities Office Press Office: +44 7384 521 405; Alice.booth@geo.gov.uk

About Bloomberg

Bloomberg, the global business and financial information and news leader, gives influential decision makers a critical edge by connecting them to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas. The company’s strength – delivering data, news and analytics through innovative technology, quickly and accurately – is at the core of the Bloomberg Terminal. Bloomberg’s enterprise solutions build on the company’s core strength: leveraging technology to allow customers to access, integrate, distribute and manage data and information across organizations more efficiently and effectively.

About Mandatory UK Gender Pay Gap Reporting

The UK Government introduced world leading, mandatory gender pay gap reporting for large employers in 2017. The requirements provide an unparalleled level of transparency. Organisations with 250 or more employees need to publish 14 separate data points on gender pay differences each year. The first year of reporting saw an unprecedented level of compliance and 100% of organisations in scope have reported. Reporting on such a wide range of measures helps employers to understand the causes of the gender pay differences in their own workforces and encourages them to take action.

Live gender pay gap data, for the more than 10,000 employers that have reported, is easily accessible via the Government’s gender pay gap reporting website. The reporting website has been highly acclaimed for the transparency it provides and has attracted interest from across the globe.

• During her visit, she will appear in front of the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Constitution Committee to discuss devolved finance powers and hold talks with the Scottish Government Finance Secretary Derek Mackay on their shared interest in growing the Scottish economy

• She will also tour businesses and outline the next steps in the Moray Growth Deal
  Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss will visit Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Peterhead this week (26 – 28 September) to meet businesses and discuss Scotland’s thriving economy.

Liz Truss said:

Scotland’s brilliant enterprise and entrepreneurship is helping to transform the Scottish economy.

For example, I’ll see for myself the maritime services revamping the oil and gas industry in Aberdeen, learn how technology is making Scottish whisky production in Moray even better, and visit Codebase, the UKs largest tech incubator to see the work they helping start-up businesses.

The UK government is committed to supporting Scotland’s growth and helping unleash its talent by giving Holyrood more powers and Scottish cities and regions more freedom to run their local economies.

While in Scotland, Liz Truss will:

• Tour Codebase in Edinburgh, the UKs largest technology incubator hosting 100 tech firms

• Visit Aberdeen and Peterhead, where she will meet businesses from diverse industries such as food and drink exporting and energy logistics

The Chief Secretary will complete the visit in Moray, where she will outline the next steps in the Moray Growth Deal by inviting local councils and businesses the chance to submit plans to government on their priorities for boosting economic growth and productivity.

This deal forms part of the government’s City and Growth Deals, through which more than £1 billion has been invested directly into Scotland.

Every city in Scotland either has a city deal or is in negotiations for a deal that gives local areas the tools and resources they need to kick-start growth and regeneration.

The UK government is helping Scottish families keep more money in their pocket for the things that matter to them. For example, we have cut income tax for 2.4 million people and our fuel duty freeze is saving the average motorist £130 each year.

Scottish companies are also being supported expand and reach new markets across the world through UK government new Foreign Direct Investment projects. In 2017/18 these projects created more than 4,000 jobs in Scotland.

Starting at 11am, the service will commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women involved in the two World Wars and later conflicts.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) is the coordinator of the event,
alongside colleagues from across government, the Armed Forces and veterans’ organisations.

This year, with Remembrance Sunday falling on the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, we expect a greater number of people to want to view the ceremony. There will also be an additional event, the Nation’s Thank You procession taking place immediately after the service. Applications for tickets for this event are now closed, but you can find out more details on the event website.

No tickets or passes are needed to watch the ceremony from the pavements along Whitehall and Parliament Street. There will be large screens north of the Cenotaph, near the green outside the main Ministry of Defence building and mounted outside the Scotland Office and south of the Cenotaph on the corner of King Charles Street.

If you are thinking of attending the commemorations in London, please note the schedule of the event below:

Attending and taking part

• 08:00: Whitehall opens to the public. The public are advised to arrive early to secure a good view, as space is limited. Please allow time to clear the police security procedures and you are advised not to bring suitcases or large bags.
• 09:00: Royal British Legion (RBL) detachments form up on Horse Guards Parade and in Whitehall.
• 10:00: All detachments march out from Wellington Barracks.
• 11:00: Two minutes silence marked by the firing of guns from King’s Troop on Horse
  Guards Parade. Cenotaph Service commences.
• 11:25: Cenotaph Service concludes and Royal British Legion detachments disperse past the Cenotaph.
• 12:30: The Nation’s Thank You procession commences
• 13:30: The Nation’s Thank You procession ends

Security Information

Extensive police security procedures will be in place on the day. Please allow plenty of time for clearance through security. We advise against bringing large bags or cases as these could delay your entrance into the public viewing areas. Please note that the unauthorised use of any drones (including quadcopters/helicopters) in this area and the roads surrounding Whitehall is strictly prohibited at all times.

Further information

• Queries about the march past should contact the Royal British Legion at cenotaph@britishlegion.org.uk.

• Photography is permitted, but the Metropolitan Police have powers to remove obstacles (such as camera tripods) where they obstruct public access or views. We ask spectators not to take photographs during the 2 ­minute silence, when shutter noises can cause offence.

• A space will be available for wheelchair users and other spectators who might find it difficult to view from the general public areas. This area is located on the west side of Parliament Street, close to the junction with King Charles Street. Space in this enclosure will be offered on a first come, first served, basis only. One carer or guest per person will also be admitted and a toilet for the use of disabled people will be available nearby.

• Temporary public toilets will be located in Whitehall Place. First aid facilities, provided by St John’s Ambulance, will be available at various locations along Whitehall, whilst their personnel will also be patrolling the area.

• Please note that due to the number of people likely to attend, it may be difficult for you to leave Whitehall before the end of the RBL march past, and the subsequent public procession. If you do not wish to stay for the march past or the public procession, we recommend that you position yourself close to an exit point.

• Please take note of signs and stewards, and remember that you will not be able to access certain areas on Whitehall and the Mall during the events.

Mr President, thank you for convening this important debate. There is no greater threat to international peace and security than the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

These issues matter to every man, woman and child around the globe.

And the United Kingdom, like the other Permanent Members of this Council, has a special responsibility to protect the significant gains we have made in the last 70 years.

Because the international community has invested huge energy into containing the horrific forces that emerged in the 20th Century.

The multilateral framework of treaties countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is one of the greatest achievements of the international community, demonstrating the value of global cooperation.

It has improved all of our security. It has brought a measure of predictability and stability. And it has paved the way to arms control agreements and disarmament.

When many of us around this table were born it was feared dozens of Nuclear-Weapon States might emerge. Instead, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons has seen a remarkable near-30 states abandon their pursuit of nuclear weapons. Global stockpiles have been reduced by close to 80% since their Cold War peak. That is true success, on a truly global scale.

Similar – if not greater – success has been achieved on chemical and biological weapons. Over 96% of declared stockpiles of chemical weapons have now been destroyed under international verification. And no country professes publicly to possess biological weapons.

But the last 18 months have seen these hard-won gains challenged.

We have seen chemical weapons used in Syria, Malaysia and the UK. The conventions governing our nuclear compact are being picked at. Predictability and stability are declining. If we do not increase our collective efforts to preserve and build on what we have, there is a very real risk these gains will subside or fall away.

The 1970 Non-Proliferation Treaty is rightly perceived as the flagship of the international community’s determination against nuclear proliferation.

Supporting it requires leadership. Leadership of the sort your administration – and you personally, Mr President – are demonstrating on DPRK, the world’s most pressing nuclear threat.

In meeting Kim Jong Un, you have created an historic opportunity for complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation.

Consensus from this Council to impose sanctions on DPRK has played no small part.

But we will not continue meaningful progress towards peace on the Korean Peninsula without sustained pressure. Sanctions must be strictly enforced by all, including the DPRK’s neighbours. We must stay vigilant.

Ensuring non-proliferation also requires collective leadership, of the type that led to the agreement in 2015 of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – the Iran nuclear deal.

For many years, the scale and nature of Iran’s nuclear programme raised serious international concerns. The JCPOA was an important step forward in addressing these. It remains the best means of preventing Iran developing a nuclear weapon, and we are committed to preserving the JCPOA as long as Iran continues to abide by its obligations in full. Iran must ensure they implement their obligations fully. And to monitor Iran’s compliance, we strongly support the IAEA using inspections and other monitoring provisions of the JCPOA to their full.

Other aspects of Iran’s policies, in particular its destabilising regional behaviour and sustained efforts to enhance its ballistic missile capability, continue to cause serious concerns. The international community, and, where appropriate, the Security Council, need to be ready to address this.

And Iran’s proliferation of missile and sophisticated military technology to groups like Hizbollah in Lebanon or, as the UN’s Panel of Experts concluded, the Houthis in Yemen, is also not in compliance with Security Council Resolutions.

It risks a dangerous escalation. So we need to see further decisive action in this Council to tackle both the transit and proliferation of these technologies, and increase the costs for those responsible.

It is regrettable that Russia continues to prevent the Council from upholding its responsibility to stop this destabilising activity.

Mr President, nowhere are the grim consequences of the erosion of global norms on Weapons of mass destruction more apparent than in Syria, where the UN has concluded that Asad’s regime has repeatedly used chemical weapons, a direct assault on a near-century old ban vital to our collective peace and security. Yet Russia has repeatedly wielded its veto to prevent the Security Council from holding the Asad regime to account, even shutting down the international body established to investigate chemical weapons use in Syria.

So I welcome the decision of 150 countries in June – the largest gathering in its history – to empower the OPCW to attribute responsibility for chemical weapons attacks in Syria and to put in place arrangements for attribution for any country which requests it.

And I would like to thank the President and President Macron for their determination for joint military action in April 2018.

This decision also sent a clear message to the Asad regime: perpetrators of chemical weapons use cannot escape identification. The regime’s backers must use their influence to ensure chemical weapons are not used again. For there must be no doubt: we will respond swiftly and appropriately if they are.

The UK saw the consequences of these norms being eroded in Salisbury this year, when Russia recklessly deployed a nerve agent on our streets. The United Kingdom has presented detailed evidence, clearly laid out in charges of attempted murder and the use and possession of a chemical weapon against two agents of the Russian state. We have taken appropriate action, with our allies, and we will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure our collective security. Russia has only sought to obfuscate through desperate fabrication.

Permanent Members of the UN Security Council must not attack and undermine the international non-proliferation regimes and the institutions that underpin them. All members of the Council must fulfil their responsibilities to safeguard them, in support of international peace and security.

It is my sincere hope that Russia will rejoin the international consensus against the use of chemical weapons, and the collective effort to uphold it. If so, this Council will again be able to work together to rid the world of chemical weapons. But if not, we should leave no-one in any doubt of the international community’s determination to uphold international non-proliferation regimes.

Not all the challenges faced by the counter-proliferation framework come before this Council, but they are no less urgent. We need to strengthen the rules to keep pace with new technologies and more complex global supply chains. We must help every UN member to develop their capabilities and regulation, and ensure they are able to make their contribution to this global effort.

The quiet but essential role the United Nations plays must be at the heart of these efforts. So as UN members, we should invest the expertise and diplomatic resources necessary in the Conventions.

Mr President, it was collective engagement by states across the globe that produced the counter-proliferation framework. Even the most powerful recognised that investing in collective rules-based restraint was the only effective way of addressing national security interests and avoiding unilateral recourse to force.

We cannot let the framework be undermined today by those who reject the values and disregard the rules that have kept us safe. It will take collective engagement to reinforce it in the face of today’s challenges. And in this, as has always been the case, the UK will play a leading role.

The Food Authenticity Network is a UK government initiative to help bring together those involved in food authenticity testing. The network is funded by cross-departmental collaboration involving FSA, FSS, Defra and BEIS via the Government Chemist programme.

The network has been in existence for three years and has provided a successful platform for stakeholders in the food authenticity area to interact and share knowledge.

The network was recognised as a leading example of an integrity network at two side events of the Codex Alimentarius Commission meeting in July 2018, Food Integrity and Food Authenticity: A Way Forward.

During these side events, the UK representation provided an overview of the Food Authenticity Network and distributed material on the Network to delegations.

Countries attending the side events indicated both their progress and challenges related to the subject and also underlined the very practical daily challenges they face due to lack of regulation, capacity and knowledge on this issue. Within this context the Food Authenticity Network was quoted a number of times at both side events by the panellists as being a leading example of an integrity network.

For more information about the work the Government Chemist gets involved with contact: