Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Support for Women

Wednesday 10 February 2021 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government has rolled out economic support during the COVID-19 outbreak, including for sectors with large female employment.
  • Minister stated she will speak to DWP colleagues regarding the adequacy of the Universal Credit childcare offer.
  • Government recognises difficulties parents face during the pandemic and have provided support through universal credit.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Richard Thomson
Women & Equalities
Context

Recent assessments are needed to determine if government support is adequate for women affected by the pandemic.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of Government support for women during the covid-19 outbreak?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

We have rolled out unprecedented levels of economic support to those who need it most, regardless of gender. That includes sectors that employ large numbers of women, such as retail and hospitality. The Government are continually reviewing the effectiveness of their support and Departments carefully consider the impact of their decisions on those sharing protected characteristics.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific assessment of adequacy was not provided; only general statements about support.

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Q2 Richard Thomson
Benefits & Welfare Women & Equalities
Context

A High Court ruling found the universal credit childcare payment system to be unlawful and discriminatory against women, impacting a single mother who was forced into debt.

Question

Does the Minister agree that the Universal Credit childcare offer is inadequate for parents who rely on it? Will she urge the Department of Work and Pensions to improve it?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I will speak to my colleagues in the DWP, but I know that the Government have been offering unprecedented levels of support to provide for all those people who require support in childcare. That includes the recent £20 uplift, which the Chancellor agreed to last year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific agreement on inadequacy was not given; only commitment to speak to DWP and mention of recent uplift.

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Q3 Charlotte Nichols Lab Warrington North
Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

A TUC survey found that 71% of mothers asking to be furloughed due to childcare responsibilities have been refused by their employers.

Question

What steps will the Minister take to ensure affordable childcare is available for all parents who need it?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I thank the hon. Lady for her question. The Government have provided significant support for those people who have been furloughed, and there is a childcare provision within universal credit. We recognise that parents across the country are having difficulties during the pandemic, and we have put several measures in place to ensure they have the support required.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps were not detailed; only broad statements about existing measures and recognition of difficulties.

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Q4 Kirsten Oswald SNP
Women & Equalities
Context

The pandemic has made flexible working essential, but current regulations require 26 consecutive weeks of employment before an employee can request flexible working.

Question

What consideration has the Minister given to the recommendation in the Women and Equalities Committee report to remove the 26-week threshold for requesting flexible working?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

We have a manifesto commitment to further encourage flexible working, and we are going to be consulting on making it the default unless employers have good reasons not to. We know that the Women and Equalities Committee has released a report, and we are carefully considering it and will provide our conclusions in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plans or considerations were not detailed; only commitment to consultation and providing conclusions later.

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