Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Equal Access to Opportunity

Wednesday 21 October 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The average hourly wages are more than 30% higher in London than in Northern Ireland and regions such as the east Midlands and the north-east.
  • White working-class children face poor educational outcomes, for example in GCSE results and higher education participation.
  • The Equality Hub is being asked to expand beyond protected characteristics to address these issues.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Dehenna Davison
Economy Employment
Context

The MP highlighted the disparity in average hourly wages between London and regions like Northern Ireland, the east Midlands, and the north-east. She emphasized the need for action to address this inequality.

Question

What steps are being taken by the Government to ensure equal access to opportunity? The average hourly wages are more than 30% higher in London than in Northern Ireland and regions such as the east midlands and the north-east, which is why we need to level up Britain.

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

We know that the average hourly wages are more than 30% higher in London than in Northern Ireland and regions such as the east midlands and the north-east. That is why we are working to level up Britain.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not provide specific steps or commitments on how the Government plans to address regional disparities in wage levels and ensure equal access to opportunity.

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Q2 Dehenna Davison
Education Women & Equalities
Context

The MP pointed out that white working-class children often have some of the worst educational outcomes, as evidenced by GCSE results and participation in higher education. She asked if the Government Equalities Office would back such communities.

Question

White working-class children face poor educational outcomes, for example in GCSE results and higher education participation. Does my right hon. Friend agree that these children deserve full backing from the Government Equalities Office?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The attainment score at GCSE for white British children who receive free school meals is lower than the equivalent for black and Asian children who receive free school meals. That is why I have asked the Equality Hub to expand beyond protected characteristics and strengthen its focus on geography and social background to identify barriers to opportunity and success.

Answered
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