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Black History Month
19 October 2023
Lead MP
Abena Oppong-Asare
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
Crime & Law EnforcementScience & TechnologyWomen & Equalities
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Abena Oppong-Asare raised concerns about black history month in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The debate begins with Abena Oppong-Asare highlighting the importance of Black History Month, emphasising the need to recognise black history throughout the year. She pays tribute to various under-appreciated black Britons such as Mary Prince, Karen Bonner, and others from the health sector. The speech also addresses significant issues affecting black communities, including maternal health disparities, the lack of specialist training for police dealing with domestic abuse among black women, and educational racism. She calls for action on diversifying curricula and implementing a race equality strategy. Oppong-Asare raises concerns about the Windrush scandal's impact and advocates for Labour's commitment to justice for the Windrush generation.
[No interventions mentioned in the given text]
Government Response
The Minister for Women, Maria Caulfield, acknowledges the importance of Black History Month and celebrates black British women's contributions. She highlights government actions such as the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities report, 'Inclusive Britain' strategy with 74 action points, and progress on reducing time taken to allocate Windrush claims. The Minister commits to raising concerns about Valerie’s law and specialist training for police. She discusses maternal health improvements through the maternity disparities taskforce and efforts towards equality in education and employment. Caulfield also mentions work on online safety laws against racist abuse and commitments to continue addressing ethnic disparities.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.