Topical Questions 2021-03-24

2021-03-24

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Context
The MP is inquiring about the department's actions and initiatives.
If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities, particularly regarding women's rights and economic empowerment initiatives in Darlington.
We have a huge opportunity, as we recover from covid-19, for women across the world to build back better. That is why I am convening a group of leaders in the G7 gender equality advisory council this year under the newly appointed chair, Sarah Sands, with leaders such as Professor Sarah Gilbert, who spearheaded the Oxford vaccine, Ritu Karidhal, who helped to lead India's Mars orbital mission and Iris Bohnet, who has revolutionised our understanding of fairness in the workplace. Together, we can lead on education for women and girls, women's economic empowerment, and ending violence against women across the world.
Assessment & feedback
The answer did not directly address the specific ask about a statement on departmental responsibilities and actions for Darlington.
Changed Subject To Global Initiatives
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Context
The MP highlights the recent announcement of Department for International Trade hubs in Darlington and the commitment to ban conversion therapy.
May I commend her on her choice of Darlington for the newly announced Department for International Trade hubs? I look forward to welcoming her to the Tees Valley. I also welcome her commitment to a ban on conversion therapy. Does she agree that this so-called therapy is abuse and that those who perpetrate such abuse should be prevented in law from being able to do so?
I was delighted to announce yesterday that we will be bringing a trade and investment hub to Darlington. We are also looking at moving the headquarters of our Equalities Office to the north of England, and no doubt Darlington will be putting in a bid for that. My hon. Friend is absolutely right to say that we need to stamp out coercion and causing people harm wherever it takes place. That is what I am determined to do, and that is what I will be bringing forward shortly.
Assessment & feedback
The answer did not directly address the specific ask about banning conversion therapy by law for religious organisations.
Changed Subject To Other Initiatives
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Marsha de Cordova Lab
Battersea
Context
The MP is concerned about the Government's poor record on ending violence against women and their recent reopening of a consultation.
Over the past 10 days we have seen the Government try to defend their poor record on ending violence against women. They have recently reopened the consultation on this issue, but there is no use in consulting people if the Government are not going to take any action. Take the consultation on sexual harassment in the workplace, which closed 18 months ago. We have seen no response from the Minister and no action from the Government, despite the fact that half of women experience sexual harassment at work. Can the Minister tell the House today when she will respond to this consultation and take the much-needed action to end sexual harassment?
It is quite wrong to say that the Government are taking no action on tackling violence against women. We will be publishing a new strategy in spring 2021, which will help to better target perpetrators and support victims of these crimes. The call for evidence to input into this work has been extended to 26 March, and it is vital that we hear from women everywhere, especially given recent public discussions and concerns.
Assessment & feedback
The answer did not directly address the specific ask about responding to the sexual harassment consultation.
Changed Subject To New Strategy
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Marsha de Cordova Lab
Battersea
Context
The MP is concerned about the delay in publishing the Prime Minister's commissioned review on race and ethnic disparities.
We on this side of the House are very committed to ending violence against women and girls, but there is a pattern with this Government. They consult and they review, but they take very little action. Yesterday we marked a year since the first national lockdown. The pandemic, as we all know, has had an unequal impact on our black, Asian and ethnic minority people. Last July, the Prime Minister commissioned a review into race and ethnic disparities. It was due to be published in December last year, than they delayed it until February this year, and it is now nearly April and still no report. Can the Minister tell us when the Prime Minister intends to publish his report, and will it be accompanied by a race equality strategy to tackle the ongoing structural and institutional inequalities?
The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities will be reporting shortly, but it is disappointing that the hon. Lady seems to forget it is an independent commission. It is not the Prime Minister but an independent commission that will be publishing the report. What will happen afterwards is that the Government will provide their response to the commission's recommendations, and we shall wait and see what the commission recommends.
Assessment & feedback
The answer did not directly address the specific ask about publication timing and follow-up actions.
Changed Subject To Independent Nature Of The Review
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Context
The MP highlights a recent Government-run programme providing free sanitary products in schools and colleges.
One of the less talked about but more impactful and successful recent Government-run programmes is the period product scheme for schools and colleges in England, which provides access to free sanitary products for those in education, including approximately 5,000 girls between the ages of 10 and 19 in my Wakefield constituency. Many women across the UK, however, continue to struggle with access to sanitary products, including those experiencing homelessness and those in financial hardship as a consequence of the pandemic. Will my hon. Friend kindly outline for the House what steps she is taking to promote access to female sanitary products?
The Government have taken several important steps to ensure women are able to access the sanitary products they need. From 1 January 2021 the tampon tax has been abolished, with a zero rate of VAT applied to women's sanitary products coming into effect. The Department for Education is leading a scheme to provide access to free period products in schools and colleges in England, NHS England announced in March 2019 that it will offer free period products to every hospital patient who needs them, including long-term patients, and the Home Office has changed the law to ensure that all people in custody are provided with free health and hygiene products, including period products.
Assessment & feedback
The answer did not directly address the specific ask about steps for those outside educational settings, particularly homeless or financially struggling individuals.
Changed Subject To Other Government Initiatives
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Chi Onwurah Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Context
During the lockdown, there has been increased reliance on technology which includes apps that fail to recognize black faces and discriminatory algorithms used for recruitment and visa applications.
In lockdown, we have all become much more dependent on technology. Yet this technology is not designed to treat us equally, with video-conferencing and photo-sharing apps failing to recognise black faces, recruitment algorithms discriminating against ethnicity, and the Home Office withdrawing its own visa application algorithm due to bias. In this week of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, what is the Minister doing to prevent structural racism from being further entrenched by new technologies?
The hon. Lady raises a very interesting question, and this is something the Government are aware of and are looking into. Yesterday, I spoke to Dr Tony Sewell, who is chairing the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities; I am aware that it has researched this extensively and I look forward to seeing what its report says on it.
Assessment & feedback
The specific actions being taken by the Minister to address structural racism in technology were not detailed.
Looking Into Under Review
Response accuracy