THE MP for Bury South questioned the Government last week over incidents of gender segregation in some Muslim independent schools.

Ivan Lewis asked the Department for Education what steps were being taken to reduce segregation in certain schools and was told that the Government would not hesitate to report any school where staff or children were being disadvantaged.

In a written response, schools minister Nick Gibb said: "Independent schools have to meet the standards set in regulations.

"If segregation results in disadvantage for pupils of one gender, either directly or through inappropriate modelling of gender roles through staff segregation visible to pupils, then it is likely that the standards have not been met and regulatory action by this Department will follow.

"If there is a possibility that staff segregation disadvantages staff of one gender and there may be a direct breach of the Equality Act 2010, we will not hesitate to make a referral to the Equality and Human Rights Commission."