Topical Questions 2023-03-08
2023-03-08
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The question prompts the Minister to make a statement on her departmental responsibilities, specifically in honour of International Women's Day.
If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. The Minister will be aware—[Interruption.]
I wish everyone a happy International Women's Day, when we celebrate 51% of the population. I am proud of this Government's record on supporting women, whether that is young girls playing more sport in school or the first ever women's health strategy, which this year will see the rolling out of the prepayment certificate for hormone replacement therapy, pregnancy loss certificates this summer, and the levelling up of IVF access. Today I am proud to announce £25 million to roll out women's health hubs across England—the one-stop shop for all women's health needs that will drastically improve women's experience of healthcare in England.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question follows up on sexual harassment issues, specifically addressing the Minister's acknowledgment of the problem and actions taken.
The Minister will be aware—[Interruption.] The Minister will be aware that sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious issue. Will she make clear what steps her department has taken to address this?
We take sexual harassment in the workplace very seriously—[Interruption.] Oh, to be shouted down for the entrance of a man.
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Assessment & feedback
Sexual harassment steps taken by the government
Shouting Down
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
The question addresses menopause stigma and discrimination in workplaces, prompting the government to outline steps taken.
I am proudly backing a campaign to improve services for menopause sufferers in the county of Devon. In society and at work, stigma remains a barrier to many people getting the support they require. What steps are the Government taking to prevent menopause discrimination in the workplace?
We are working with employers and employees on that crucial matter, to ensure that there is no stigma in the workplace for those experiencing the impact of the menopause. To that end, on Monday I was delighted to announce the appointment of Helen Tomlinson as the Department for Work and Pensions menopause employment champion. She will have a key role in driving awareness and promoting the benefits to both business and the economy of a fully inclusive workplace.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses the High Court ruling on the national disability strategy, prompting a commitment to tackling violence against disabled individuals.
Disabled people are more than twice as likely to experience domestic abuse and sexual violence as non-disabled people. The national disability strategy set out a roadmap to improve the protection and support available to disabled people in their homes, but last year that was found to be unlawful by the High Court for not having given the disabled community an adequate opportunity to shape the strategy. Will the Minister confirm that tackling the scourge of violence against disabled people will be a central priority of the new disability action plan, and will she guarantee that that new plan will be shaped by disabled people?
Violence against disabled people, in their home or anywhere, is just as important an issue as violence against anybody else, and we are putting unprecedented moneys towards stopping that sort of violence. It is all about education. The National Police Chiefs' Council and the College of Policing are working hard on that, and we are making progress.
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Assessment & feedback
Guarantee that the new plan will be shaped by disabled people
Response accuracy
Q5
Direct Answer
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Context
The question addresses the issue of mental health and suicide among young men, prompting a response on government initiatives to help.
Young men often struggle with their mental health, and particularly with suicidal thoughts that can hit like a heart attack. What more can the Government do—indeed, what more can each individual Member of the House do—to help those young men?
Absolutely. That is why we are setting out the suicide prevention strategy and looking at high-risk groups such as men. The Home Office is also working to set up helplines for men. Some £200,000 is going into those helplines, and so far they have supported 10,000 men who needed support.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses the disparity between men and women starting new businesses, prompting a response on government support for female founders.
New businesses are almost three times as likely to be started by men as by women. Does the Minister agree with Labour's plan to work with the British Business Bank to support female founders to achieve their ambitions?
The Labour party is once again late to the party, because the Conservative Government are already delivering on this. We have set up the high-growth enterprise taskforce to get more women into setting up high-growth businesses and to end the disparity in venture capital whereby, for every pound that is given, 89p currently goes to men's businesses and only a penny to women's.
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Assessment & feedback
Late To The Party
Response accuracy