[1 Deleve nar but promovun the Women's Section…]

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1 Deleve nar but promovun the Women's Section of the NEC of resolutions direct from should be representative of, andWomen's Conference onto the accountable to, the Women's Annual Conference Agenda Organisation in the Party. I would have two advantages for would prefer to see all elections "A number of actions need to be taken to alter this image and to change the attitudes behind it.

"Firstly child care facilities must be a major priority to enable women to have access to work outside the home and to establish the principlé of a woman's right to work.

"At the same time working hours and conditions need to be altered so that all parents have time at home with their families on an equal basis.

'Action needs to be taken to end the discrepancies between men's and women's wages: this is one principle reason why I have supported over many years the idea of a Statutory Minimum Wage to reduce the enormous gap between the low paid - who are mainly women - and those on higher pay. Collective bargaining has clearly failed to achieve this redistribution.

'I support Party Policy on the issue of abortion. I believe there should be changes in the law to give women the right to choose whether or not they have an abortion, and to ensure that abortion facilities are available, free within the National Health Service, on an equal basis throughout the country. " • I have voted against attempts to restrict the 1967 Abortion Act on three occasions in the House of Commons, and I voted for Jo Richardson's Abortion Facilities Bill in 1981.

•The links between the Women's Organisation and the rest of the Party could be strengthened by the adoption of Aston 1.. The re election at e dong in the long run are the pressures that *ister Whether et's the state of the Econo wait be. expected yet That secret trad a seement Contens lar forst aar shoule 2p: art won onto d stores ofe Latest issue - 10p plus 12½p postage from 10B Landseer Road, London N19 = surities formal constitution and rules for the Women's Organisation. in line with the rest of the Party. It is only through such a formal structure that the Women's Organisation will be able to operate in a truly democratic manner and present itself as a recognised force in the Party.

•Thalion that tha mammatinn TESSA HOWLAND. (IFL) .

National Labour Women's Conference conference women: Firstly, will give direct access to the policy making structure of the Party to the Women's Organisation, and, secondly, it will mean that the views and aspirations of women in the Party will be brought directly to the attention of the whole Party.

"I support the principle that voice in ference remains the supreme policy making budy of the Party.

"I also believe that we may face problems from other groups such as the Local Government Conference and the Parliamentary Labour Party who may wish to change the character of the NEC and demand • similar representation.

'However, the arguments concerning the election of the Women's Section of the NEC by women are extremely strong, and I would welcome discussions with women in the Party as to how best we can achieve this aim.

'The Party should have a full-time Women's Officer. At present Joyce Gould is not only the Women's Officer but also Assistant National Agent and Campaigns Officer and can Women's Organisation.

"I believe that women shoul have a full-time officer with thi appropriate research and admin istrative staff so they can effec tively campaign and develo policy for women in the Party.

"I also believe that Regiona Women's Officers should be women and that urgent actior needs to be taken to end the present ludicrous situatior where a majority of Regiona Women's Officers in the Party are men.

It is clear that the PLP must have a front bench spokesperson on Women's Rights who sup. ports the objectives. of the women's movement. If elected as leader, I would appoint Jo Richardson to that position as she is the woman who has consistently fought for these policies over many years." to th