Ministers will fail to eliminate the gender pay gap in a generation unless it starts to take concrete action to achieve its goal, MPs said.

The cross-party Women and Equalities Committee said ministers were not effectively tackling the causes of the difference in pay between the genders.

They made 17 recommendations last March, but most of them were rejected in the government’s response last month.

Conservative MP Maria Miller said it was 'deeply disappointing' her committee's recommendations had not been taken on board by Government

The MPs had called for measures to address a pay ‘penalty’ suffered by part-time workers, help for parents to share childcare and support for women returning to work after having children.

Conservative MP Maria Miller, who chairs the committee, said: ‘The Government says there is no place for a gender pay gap in modern Britain and has restated its pledge to end the pay gap within a generation.

‘But without effectively tackling the key issues of flexible working, sharing unpaid caring responsibilities, and supporting women aged over 40 back into the workforce, the gender pay gap will not be eliminated.

‘We made practical, evidence-based recommendations to address these issues. They were widely supported by a range of stakeholders including businesses, academics and unions.

‘It is deeply disappointing that our recommendations have not been taken on board by Government.’