Budget Gender Equality 2023-03-21
2023-03-21
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from concerns about the spring Budget's effects on gender equality, specifically regarding women's economic opportunities and public service reliance.
If he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the spring Budget on gender equality. I thank the Minister for his response. Let me help him out. If he had made an adequate assessment, he would have found that the spring Budget failed women. It failed young women, women in work and pensioners.
The Government remain committed to full genuine gender equality and to supporting women. In particular, we are supporting women into work through our new childcare package, which I just mentioned, allowing people to return to work sooner; encouraging business investment through schemes such as the community investment tax relief; and creating new job opportunities with our labour market package. We are putting in £4.1 billion by 2027-28 to expand free childcare. This Government have a record to be proud of: we have increased the number of women in full-time work; we introduced shared parental leave; we introduced the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
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Assessment & feedback
The issue of compensation for WASPI women was not addressed with a specific commitment or plan.
We Are Putting In £4.1 Billion By 2027-28 To Expand Free Childcare
This Government Have A Record To Be Proud Of
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The concern is about the impact of the spring Budget on women, particularly regarding pensioners and the gender pensions gap.
Most of the UK's poorest pensioners are single women, and the gender pensions gap needs to be addressed. Will he agree to urgently put forward a compensation package to deal with the injustice faced by 1950s women—the WASPI women?
I do not accept that. I think the WASPI issue has been covered many times, by Ministers from the Department for Work and Pensions and elsewhere.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific request for a compensation package was not addressed directly.
I Do Not Accept That
The Waspi Issue Has Been Covered Many Times
Response accuracy