Topical Questions 2026-01-28
2026-01-28
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The gender pay gap for full-time employees in Scotland widened from 2% in 2024 to 3.5% in 2025, indicating a worsening trend in women's earnings relative to men’s.
I am concerned about the widening of the gender pay gap for full-time employees in Scotland from 2% in 2024 to 3.5% in 2025. On the SNP’s watch, women are earning less for the same hours. What can the UK Government do to improve matters?
My hon. Friend is right: we must narrow that gap. We are ensuring that large employers, including in the Scottish private sector, publish plans on how they will address the gender pay gap. Of course, I am proud that, alongside my hon. Friend, this Labour Government are delivering the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation.
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Assessment & feedback
The answerer did not provide specific actions or policies to narrow the gender pay gap beyond publishing plans by employers.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Nurses across the country are facing harassment from the NHS, unions, and other bodies for recognising biological sex as real. One such nurse is Jennifer Melle.
Nurses up and down the country, including Darlington nurses and Jennifer Melle, are being hounded and harassed by the NHS simply for recognising that biological sex is real. I am grateful that the Minister has previously agreed to meet Jennifer. Will she hold accountable those in the NHS, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and unions who have harassed and victimised these nurses?
I look forward to meeting Jennifer soon to discuss her experiences and what more we can do to ensure that women in the NHS are safe at work. I am determined to ensure that the rights, voices and spaces for women who work in the NHS and women who are patients in the NHS are protected.
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Assessment & feedback
The answerer did not commit to holding specific individuals or bodies accountable but expressed a commitment to discuss the issue further.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The Muslim Vote has endorsed the Green Party in Gorton and Denton, leading to sectarian conflicts. A Labour candidate at a previous election was threatened with beheading.
In the case of Gorton and Denton, we heard this week that The Muslim Vote has decided to endorse the Green party. This is overt sectarism in our midst. We know where sectarian politics leads—conflict and strife. Even one of Labour’s candidates at the last election was threatened with beheading. Will the Secretary of State call out this problem?
I am not aware of the particular case that the right hon. Lady describes. What I can say is that violence, intimidation or harassment has no place in our politics. No political candidate or Member of Parliament should be subject to that kind of experience.
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Assessment & feedback
The answerer did not address the specific case mentioned and only provided a general statement against violence without concrete action.
Response accuracy