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The present UK government has pledged that it will put women at the heart of government. A variety of initiatives have been taken in order to honor this pledge including the implementation of an equality strategy known as mainstreaming. Mainstreaming requires the integration of a gender perspective into policy making. This article will examine the case for mainstreaming & what practical steps have been taken to put it into effect at Westminster & in the arrangements for devolving power to the new regional assemblies in Scotland, Wales, & Northern Ireland. Particular attention will be paid to the impact that mainstreaming has had on women's representation, their ability to play a role in government, & the elimination of gender inequality. This analysis will conclude with an assessment of the potential of these mainstreaming initiatives to effect substantive change to policy making judged on the basis of criteria developed during the course of the article. 43 References. Adapted from the source document.