Women’s equality in the UK – A health check

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work because of the rising costs of childcare. 88 Many women have calculated that it makes more
financial sense to stay at home to look after their children; however, single parents, the majority
of whom are women, are often unable to do this. 89 In 2010, 30% of working mothers depended
on paid childcare. This included 56% of lone mothers with a child under five and 34% of mothers
with partners. 90
Childcare in the UK is already amongst the most expensive in the world with 33% of the average
net income going towards childcare. 91 With rising unemployment, increased numbers of women
affected by cuts in public sector spending and decreasing flexibility in the workplace, 92 securing
paid work that is compatible with childcare responsibilities will be harder and less financially
rewarding. 93 (See Article 13)
Recommendation:
Explore investing in a national system of universal childcare. This would create
employment (in a sector in which women are over-represented), and would help to
make work pay for second earners and single parents (both of whom are more likely
to be women)
63% of Sure Start Centres are facing changes, including cuts to staff and services. 94 Between
April 2010 and November 2011, there was a net reduction of 124 Sure Start Centres in England. 95
In contrast to this approach, the Welsh Government has chosen to protect and expand
its equivalent service, Flying Start, which demonstrates the potential for taking different
approaches within the same spending context. 96 (See Annex 1) 35% of mothers using Sure Start
Centres felt that the removal or reduction of services would leave them more socially isolated,
and 32% felt it would be harder to see their midwife or health visitor. 97 (See Appendix: 18 for
further information)
Recommendation:
Protect Sure Start services by reinstating the ring-fence to the Sure Start grant to
Local Authorities in England while providing additional money to fund it so that other
services are not affected
Supporting the rights of migrant workers in international development
As this is not really the remit of CEDAW, which focuses on domestic legislation and policies, we
will look at migrant workers in the UK.
88. Beattie, J. (2011) ‘One in four women forced to give up work as childcare cuts bite’, The Daily Mirror Online, 16th August 2011 http://www.
mirror.co.uk/news/politics/2011/08/16/one-in-four-women-forced-to-give-up-work-as-childcare-cuts-bite-115875-23347671/
89. Women’s Resource Centre (2012) Factsheet: Women and the cuts 2012 WRC: London http://thewomensresourcecentre.org.uk/wpcontent/uploads/women-and-the-cuts.pdf
90. Women’s Budget Group (2012) Impact on Women of the Budget 2012 http://wbg.org.uk/pdfs/The-Impact-on-Women-of-the-Budget-
2012-FINAL.pdf
91. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2010) Gender Brief. OECD Social Policy Division http://www.oecd.org/
dataoecd/23/31/44720649.pdf
92. Helm, T. (2012) ‘Four in 10 female police officers have considered quitting the force’, The Guardian, 14th July 2012 http://www.guardian.
co.uk/uk/2012/jul/14/female-police-officers-force
93. The Fawcett Society (2011) The Impact of Austerity on Women. Fawcett: London http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/wp-content/
uploads/2013/02/The-Impact-of-Austerity-on-Women-19th-March-2012.pdf
94. The Fawcett Society (2011) The Impact of Austerity on Women. Fawcett: London http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/wp-content/
uploads/2013/02/The-Impact-of-Austerity-on-Women-19th-March-2012.pdf
95. Hansard (2011) Written Answer, 14 November 2011. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/111114-0001.htm
96. Oxfam (2012) The Perfect Storm: Economic stagnation, the rising cost of living, public spending cuts, and the impact on UK poverty.
Oxfam: Oxford http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/publications/the-perfect-storm-economic-stagnation-the-rising-cost-of-livingpublic-spending-228591
97. Butler, P. (2011) ‘Women and the coalition: Mother’s and child benefits’, The Guardian, 20th May 2011 http://tinyurl.com/6z2j2m9
108 Women’s equality in the UK: CEDAW shadow report 2013