Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Wednesday 30 March 2022 · 8 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 6 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Questions addressed concerns about the 'Inclusive Britain' programme and its alignment with the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities report.
  • The Government acknowledged the urgency of high childcare costs impacting women's employment and highlighted spending over 3.5 billion annually to support early education and childcare.
  • Government committed to considering overlaps and linkages of experiences of people with Down's syndrome and other genetic conditions in the development of guidance.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham
Democracy & Elections Standards & Ethics
Context

The Liberal Democrats are concerned about the government's actions in response to the report on race and ethnic disparities.

Question

I am concerned that the Government's 'Inclusive Britain' programme may not fully address the issues raised by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities. Can you provide more details on how this action plan will tackle negative disparities, promote unity and build a fairer Britain for all?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

'Inclusive Britain' is the Government's response to the report by the independent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, and it sets out a groundbreaking action plan to tackle negative disparities, promote unity and build a fairer Britain for all. This includes developing a new model history curriculum by 2024; working with a panel of academics and businesspeople to promote fairness in the workplace; and developing a new national framework for how the use of police powers is scrutinised at local level.

Answered
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Q2 Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham
Employment Women & Equalities Children & Families
Context

A recent survey by Pregnant Then Screwed found that many parents are paying more for childcare than rent or mortgage, pushing mothers out of the workforce.

Question

I am concerned about the impact of high childcare costs on women's employment. Does the Minister agree that this is urgent and how will the Government address it?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I agree with the hon. Lady that childcare is a very important issue if we want to keep women in the workplace. We have spent more than £3.5 billion in each of the past three years on our early education entitlement and we continue to support families with their childcare costs.

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Q3 David Duguid Con
Education
Context

The Down Syndrome Bill is being passed through Parliament, but there are concerns about unintended consequences for other genetic conditions.

Question

I welcome the passage of the Down Syndrome Bill. How will the Government ensure that this does not prioritise support for Down's syndrome over other genetic and chromosome disorders?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

The Government are committed to considering the overlaps and linkages of the experiences of people with Down's syndrome and those of people with other genetic conditions, in the development of the guidance. The national call for evidence will ensure that the guidance also benefits people with other genetic conditions too.

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Q4 Anneliese Dodds Labour (Co-op) Oxford East
Economy Women & Equalities
Context

Women are disproportionately affected by the cost of living crisis, cutting essentials for themselves so that their kids do not go without.

Question

What assessment has the Government made of the financial impact of the Chancellor's autumn Budget last year and his spring statement last week on women?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

The Treasury looks at all impacts in the round, and the financial statement the Chancellor announced last week would have had an equalities impact assessment, which would have taken into account all the various measures and their impact, based on protected characteristics.

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Q5 Anneliese Dodds Labour (Co-op) Oxford East
Energy Women & Equalities
Context

The Women's Budget Group has highlighted that the Government's policies have taken £28 billion from the pockets of women over six years.

Question

Why is her Government still refusing to impose a windfall tax to reduce bills for everyone, providing up to £600 for households affected by high energy costs?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I simply do not recognise the figures that the hon. Lady is putting forward; it is not right to say that we are taking money out of the pockets of women. We have put forward a spring statement and a financial package that is looking after the interests of everyone in this country, because we look after people irrespective of their sex, gender, race; we look at people based on socioeconomic characteristics in particular and those who are most vulnerable or disadvantaged.

Not addressed: Refusing to impose a windfall tax to help households with energy costs

How: Disputing Figures

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Q6 Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth
Women & Equalities
Context

The Select Committee on Women and Equalities reported that poor body image can affect lifestyle choices, health, confidence, and aspirations.

Question

What action has the Minister taken following the report 'Changing the perfect picture: an inquiry into body image' by the Select Committee?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I thank my hon. Friend for his continued work on this important issue. As we all know, poor body image can affect lifestyle choices, and physical and mental health, and is associated with lower confidence and low aspirations. So we have been taking steps to ensure that young people have the skills to keep themselves safe, through our work on media literacy and promoting understanding that the online environment is not always reflective of reality.

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Q7 Gill Furniss Lab Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
Women & Equalities
Context

Hymenoplasty and so-called 'virginity testing' are forms of abuse against women and girls. The Government committed to banning them earlier this year.

Question

When will the legislation be introduced to ban virginity testing and protect women and girls from these inhumane practices?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

The Government are committed to safeguarding women and girls, which is why on 18 November 2021 we tabled an amendment to the Health and Care Bill to ban virginity testing, which passed unopposed in the House of Commons.

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Q8 Sheryll Murray Con
Women & Equalities
Context

There is a need to encourage more women to seek elected office following the appointment of the first female Prime Minister.

Question

What steps are the Government taking to encourage more women to enter politics and will there be a Margaret Thatcher day?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I would be very supportive of a Margaret Thatcher day, but I think that is more a question for the Prime Minister than for me. My hon. Friend will know that all parties do quite a lot to support women into elected office and across the House we can agree that that is an important thing to continue.

Not addressed: Steps being taken to encourage more women into politics

How: Redirecting Question

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