thousands more probation officers. june kelly, bbc news. the government has rejected a proposal to make menopause a protected characteristic in the equality act. it was one of a number of proposals from the women and equalities committee, which the mps said would help support women in the workplace in england. ministers accepted recommendations to allow women to request flexible working, and introduce a bespoke prepayment certificate for hormone replacement therapy. but they rejected a call for a standard menopause policy. let s talk to the mp carolyn harris mp, who chairs the all party parliamentary group on menopause. thank you for your time. your response to the government s decision on this? i response to the government s decision on this? response to the government s decision on this? i am absolutely a- alled. decision on this? i am absolutely appalled- i d decision on this? i am absolutely appalled. i d like decision on this? i am absolutely appalled. i d like to decision
about pay within 48 hours of their walk out in the week ahead. as you say, we have been hearing from the government. cabinet office minister 0liver dowden, in charge of the contingency planning for strikes, has said of the government will be resolute in its response, and again, that it would be irresponsible to allow public sector pay and inflation to get out of control. he defended the government s decision not to offer nurses any more. i would love to give now nurses an enormous i would love to give now nurses an enormous pay rise and the prime minister enormous pay rise and the prime minister would love that as well. the reason we are not doing this is because the reason we are not doing this is because our the reason we are not doing this is because our duty is to everyone public because our duty is to everyone public and because our duty is to everyone public and private to make sure that we have public and private to make sure that we have stability in our public finan