Topical Questions

Question

I welcome the Government's commitment to tackling disparity in our healthcare, particularly important for maternity care. I ask the Minister to speak to her colleagues at the Department of Health and Social Care about Tameside Hospital's need for capital funding in a new maternity unit and antenatal clinic. The current unit is located in the Charlesworth Building built in 1971 and poorly insulated causing equipment issues. The capital funding bid needs support. Will she work with me to deliver better healthcare for women of High Peak?

Question

This morning we learned that domestic abuse-related crimes have doubled in the last five years while prosecutions fell every year. A few minutes ago, the Foreign Secretary rightly lamented violence against women and girls across the world. When will she get a grip on the catastrophic situation facing many women and girls in our own country?

Question

I regret that the Minister does not appear to have seen the figures from this morning. If she had, she would know that her Government's measures are not working. I thought she would mention additional measures required: increasing sentences for stalking and domestic murder; introducing new defences for victims; stopping social security, family courts and migration systems failing victims; making serial abusers subject to special supervision. Labour has called for all these measures. When will the Conservatives enact them?

Question

Does the Minister agree that improving trust in key public officials and institutions in areas such as law enforcement, immigration and health, particularly in communities where historically they have been low, is absolutely essential? What steps does she intend to take to level up in this vital area?

Question

Between March and June this year, self-harm for women in prison grew by a staggering 47%. Is the Minister aware that the best health outcome for women with children is not incarceration but a sentence in the community? Can she say how she is pursuing this with the Secretary of State for Justice?

Question

Does the Minister agree that it is time to better protect women from abuse and harassment, and the vehicle to do this is the Online Safety Bill?

Question

When it comes to inequalities, young carers very often lose out. Can I invite Ministers to come and look at a wonderful organisation in Wick called KLICS, which really is delivering a service that means a huge amount to young people?

Question

Dame Laura Cox recently argued that macho behaviour and posturing so frequently displayed in our political debates have adversely affected women. Women journalists, academics, campaigners and political activists have reported instances of intimidation, abuse and even physical violence. What does the Minister believe we can do collectively to change this culture?