Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Wednesday 26 October 2022 · 11 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat) expressed concern over the recent appointment of the Minister for Women and Equalities and its reflection on the government's commitment to equality.
  • The Minister for Women and Equalities stated that the government will prioritize people's needs over politics and reach out to communities across the country.
  • Virginia Crosbie highlighted the work of female entrepreneurs as celebrated by the Savvitas MP HERoes initiative, which aims to support female-led enterprises across the UK.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sarah Green Lib Dem Chesham and Amersham
Women & Equalities Standards & Ethics
Context

The question arises from the recent appointment of a new Minister for Women and Equalities.

Question

If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. She was recently appointed as Minister for Women and Equalities, and I am concerned about whether this reflects the government's priorities and commitments to equality and inclusivity in Britain.

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I am delighted to have been appointed as Minister for Women and Equalities. As the Prime Minister said yesterday, this Government will bring “compassion to the challenges we face”, put people's needs above politics and reach out to communities across the country. My priority will be to deliver our groundbreaking Inclusive Britain strategy, our cross-Government work to improve the lives of disabled people, and to break down barriers to opportunity for people from all backgrounds up and down the UK.

Answered
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Q2 Sarah Green Lib Dem Chesham and Amersham
NHS Community Security
Context

A constituent raised concerns about medical examiners' availability affecting religious practices.

Question

I recently met the chair of the Chesham mosque committee, who had been told that medical examiners in our area will be available only five days a week and not at the weekend. That will cause significant problems for our Muslim and other religious communities who bury their loved ones as soon as possible following a death. Will the Minister meet me and my constituent to find a way forward to ensure that the new system does not infringe the rights of religious communities?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I did not fully hear the question, but if the hon. Lady writes to me in more detail about what she requires, I will be able to follow up in better detail.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Arranging a meeting with the constituent

How: Did Not Fully Hear The Question

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Q3 Michael Fabricant Con
Women & Equalities Veterans
Context

The review aims to assess experiences of LGBT veterans who were barred from openly serving in armed forces between 1967 and 2000.

Question

Back in the 1990s, a colonel in the Royal Marines said to me that he would rather have a gay Marine alongside him who could shoot straight than a straight Marine who could not. My right hon. Friend will know there was much persecution of gay people in the armed forces. Can she update us on how the LGBT veterans independent review is getting on?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I thank my hon. Friend for that question. I can tell him that under Lord Etherton as chair, this important independent review has launched a call for evidence on the experiences of LGBT veterans who served between 1967 and 2000, when LGBT people were barred from openly serving in the armed forces.

Answered
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Q4 Vicky Foxcroft Lab Lewisham North
Benefits & Welfare Women & Equalities
Context

The Minister's role was previously more prominent, raising questions about the current government's commitment to disability rights.

Question

Why was the post of Minister for Disabled People demoted? What message do we think that that sends to disabled people, who already feel like an afterthought for this Government, and will the Government reverse that decision immediately?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

This continues to be an important ministerial post in Government. The Secretary of State will have strategic oversight, but let me leave the hon. Lady in no doubt about how important the issue is to this Government. With 1.3 million more people in work, billions more in funding for children with SEND, a new BSL Act, Down's syndrome Act and special rules for end of life, this continues to be a very important area for this Government.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Reconsidering the demotion

How: We Are Committed

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Q5 Virginia Crosbie
Business & Trade Women & Equalities
Context

The MP highlighted local entrepreneurs in her constituency as part of the Savvitas MP HERoes initiative.

Question

I am delighted that two entrepreneurs, Janet Percival from Jaspels cider and Stacey Chadfield from Emberwood Creative, will be coming to Westminster as part of the Savvitas MP HERoes initiative. Does my hon. Friend agree that our entrepreneurs are the backbone of our economy, particular in places such as Ynys Môn?

Answer from Katherine Fletcher

With family on the island running businesses, including my own—businesses based in Llangefni and Aberffraw, a wonderful part of the island—I absolutely support the work that the Savvitas MP HERoes have done to celebrate female-led enterprises across all areas of the UK. I particularly want to take this opportunity to thank Helene Martin Gee for her excellent work in this area. I am also delighted to announce that to date, 40% of start-up loans issued by this Government have gone to female entrepreneurs.

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Q6 Rushanara Ali Lab Bethnal Green and Stepney
Benefits & Welfare Women & Equalities
Context

The Women's Budget Group analysis shows potential hardship for lone parents due to benefit uprating policies.

Question

Women's Budget Group analysis shows that 100,000 lone parents, mostly women, and 200,000 children will be forced into poverty if the Government raise benefits in line with average wages rather than inflation. Will Ministers confirm that they will push the Chancellor to uprate benefits in line with inflation so that women are not forced into further hardship because of the Government's economic incompetence?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

The hon. Lady will know that we do not make fiscal policy in Equalities questions. She will have to wait for the Chancellor to give a statement to get an answer to her question.

Not addressed: Pressing the chancellor on benefit uprating

How: This Is A Matter Of Fiscal Policy

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Q7 Sheryll Murray Con
Business & Trade Women & Equalities
Context

The Government are considering investment zones in South East Cornwall, raising concerns about equality and opportunity for investors.

Question

The Government have an excellent opportunity to grant investment zones in South East Cornwall. What work are the Government doing to ensure equality of opportunity for those investors?

Answer from Katherine Fletcher

My hon. Friend is a role model to all the female entrepreneurs in her constituency. Whether through investment or expressions of interest by different areas, or making sure they take account of equality of opportunity in their conduct, the Government recognise that a diverse and inclusive business ecosystem is good for investors, entrepreneurs, businesses and my hon. Friend's society.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures to promote equality

How: We Are Committed

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Q8 Angela Eagle Lab Wallasey
Taxation Women & Equalities
Context

There is concern that public spending cuts disproportionately affect women, with the need for an equality assessment under the Equality Act.

Question

It is widely acknowledged that public spending cuts impact most on women. The Chancellor has signalled that he will seek such cuts in an effort to close the £40 billion hole his predecessor recklessly blew in the public finances. Will the Equalities Minister now undertake to publish an equality impact assessment on the 17 November autumn statement, as required by the Equality Act 2010?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

We will undertake all due assessments on fiscal statements, as we regularly do over the course of things.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to publishing an equality impact assessment

How: We Undertake Regular Assessments

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Q9 Paul Maynard Con
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The Government aim for more disabled people in employment, but there are ongoing challenges regarding progression and corporate representation.

Question

The Government rightly want to see more disabled people in employment, but what more can the Minister say about encouraging in-work progression for those with a disability and, most importantly, getting more disabled representation on company boards to drive wider corporate change in business?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

My hon. Friend has always been a passionate advocate for compassionate conservatism. We are looking at the issue very carefully. We are going to accept all the recommendations of the Holmes review of public appointments and I point my hon. Friend in the direction of the DWP progression work that we are doing.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions for progression and board representation

How: We Are Looking At It Carefully

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Q10 Alex Davies-Jones Lab Pontypridd
Context

The question is prompted by National Fertility Week and a meeting with the charity Fertility First, which provides information on fertility treatments.

Question

Next week we come together to recognise National Fertility Week, and yesterday I had the great opportunity to meet Fertility First, a fantastic charity that provides information to everyone who requires fertility treatment. What more can the Minister do to ensure fair and equal access to fertility treatment for everyone in the UK who needs it?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I thank the hon. Lady for raising that subject, which I would be happy to meet with her to discuss in due course. As she knows, I returned to this role only a few hours ago, so I do not have a full answer for her now, but I am happy to work with her on this issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The minister did not provide specific actions or commitments related to fertility treatment access beyond expressing willingness to discuss the matter in the future.

How: I Returned To This Role Only A Few Hours Ago

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Q11 Angela Richardson
Women & Equalities
Context

The question is prompted by allegations made on Twitter by Ben Cohen of Pink News after the Secretary of State's appointment.

Question

What is the Secretary of State's response to the allegations made yesterday, following her appointment, by Ben Cohen of Pink News?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I know everyone wants to start Prime Minister's questions quickly, but please forgive me, Mr Speaker, if my answer to this question is a tad longer than it ordinarily would be. I am afraid that this particular individual is one who uses Twitter as a tool for defamation. He has even been sued by people in this House, such as the hon. and learned Member for Edinburgh South West (Joanna Cherry). As we begin a new era of equalities, I would like to say that the Equality Act is a shield, not a sword. It is there to protect people of all characteristics, whether they are young or old, male or female, black or white, gay or straight. We are running a compassionate equality strategy and we should not be distracted by people who use Twitter as a way to insult or accuse Members of Parliament.

Not addressed: The minister did not directly address the allegations made against her but instead criticized Ben Cohen's use of Twitter and defended the Equality Act.

How: He Has Even Been Sued By People In This House, We Are Running A Compassionate Equality Strategy

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