The government must "take more seriously" efforts to eliminate the UK's gender pay gap, according to a Select Committee report.

The report says that occupational segregation is largely to blame for the pay gap. Most women work in a relatively limited number of occupations with lower pay, or in part-time jobs, it points out.

Among the key reasons for the gender pay gap was the lack of quality part-time jobs, the committee said, calling for more spending to tackle the problem.

The government was also urged to debate extending the right to ask for flexible working arrangements.

Judy Malaber MP, who led the inquiry by the Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Select Committee, says: "We need a determined effort on all fronts if we are to crack the worryingly stubborn pay gap and inequality in employment. We are calling on all government departments, public bodies and other Select Committees to keep this high on their agendas."

Other recommendations in the report are: schools to give higher priority to career advice and work experience to widen the work roles which girls consider and more flexibility and funding in adult education to help older women retrain for new careers.

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