The pay gap between women and men in the civil service has widened significantly, denting the government's image as a pioneering force in the battle for equal rights.

The average female full-time worker in the civil service earns 25 per cent less a year than her male colleague, according to the latest figures. Data from April 2004 shows an increase from 22 per cent a year before.

Stakeholder Response: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

Dianah Worman, CIPD Diversity Adviser, said: "There is still a huge lack of awareness about how equal pay audits can expose underlying bias in the way organisations value female employees.

"When employees don’t feel valued it destroys the way they feel about their employer and damages the trust between employers and workers. This in turn undermines staff commitment, motivation and retention.