Thursday 12th June 2025

Women's economic empowerment is key if the Government is to succeed in its plan for change. With growth at the centre of its mission, there are unavoidable realities to be faced and yesterday’s Spending Review was a chance to address this.  

The Gender Pay Gap remains a pervasive issue, with too many women remaining locked out of the labour market and unable to rely on welfare support they are entitled to. While it is encouraging to hear the Chancellor’s commitment to social housing, we believe this must go together with substantial investment to dismantle the major barriers hindering women’s equality - from childcare, parental leave, health to social care.  

The dial still hasn’t shifted for disabled, older, Black and minoritised or low-paid women in many respects following the Spending Review. With no announcements reversing the government's welfare cuts aimed at disabled people, disabled women and mothers continue to feel the sharp end of austerity.  

Where social housing is concerned, we are pleased to see an injection into this area, particularly for low-income and single mothers who rely on this provision disproportionately. However, we are unequivocal when we say that this must go hand in hand with reversing cuts to welfare, increasing local government and social care spending, and improving our current social infrastructure, all of which women predominantly rely on and are affected by.  

WASPI women continue to face significant hardship. Women disproportionately rely on the state pension and continue to be poorly served by it. Women already face systemic disadvantages in pension provision, and we will continue to call on the Government to reconsider its position.

Fawcett has long supported, and will continue to reinforce, the calls from organisations across the sector encouraging the Treasury to publish detailed equality impact assessments. Equality must not become an afterthought and instead be considered at every stage of the policy process.  

We also share disappointment that the Chancellor ignored calls to ensure adequate funding for the enforcement of workers’ rights. Without funding, these rights may not be effectively enforced, and rogue employers will continue to exploit workers of all genders at alarming rates. We urge the Chancellor to invest in this.