Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Wednesday 25 January 2023 · 7 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Cat Smith asked the Minister about the Health and Social Care Committee's report on the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, particularly regarding conversations with the Treasury.
  • Cat Smith also inquired about the importance of consistent implementation of citizens' rights across the UK to prevent discrimination.
  • Bob Blackman questioned the Minister about the clarity of hormone replacement therapy repayment certificates, noting an urgent need for clarification.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Cat Smith Lab Lancaster and Wyre
NHS Women & Equalities
Context

The Health and Social Care Committee's report on the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review highlighted concerns about sodium valproate.

Question

If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. Has the Minister had sight of the Health and Social Care Committee's report into the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review and, particularly on paragraph 53, what conversations might she be having with Treasury colleagues to support women seeking redress?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I thank the Health and Social Care Committee for its IMMDS follow-up report. Our sympathies remain with all those women affected by sodium valproate. Patient safety is our top priority and we are committed to improving how the system listens to people, which is why I have asked the Patient Safety Commissioner, Dr Henrietta Hughes, to look into redress schemes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific conversations with Treasury colleagues about supporting women seeking redress were not detailed.

How: We Are Committed To, Under Review

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Cat Smith Lab Lancaster and Wyre
Women & Equalities
Context

There is a need for clear and consistent implementation of equality legislation across the UK.

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that, whether they live in Land's End or John O'Groats, it is important for every citizen to know their rights and for those rights to be implemented on a clear and consistent basis so that no one is discriminated against?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The United Kingdom has some of the strongest equality legislation in the world, and rightly so. We continue to ensure that all those rights are protected. Under the Equality Act 2010, any person who is subject to discrimination can personally take their case to court to seek a remedy.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Bob Blackman Con Harrow East
NHS
Context

A letter regarding hormone replacement therapy (HRT) repayment certificates has not clarified the products covered.

Question

Despite the 11th-hour response to my letter about the hormone replacement therapy repayment certificates, which arrived in my inbox just an hour ago, there still appears to be some ambiguity about what the certificate will cover. In her letter, the Minister says that changes to the drug tariff are being finalised to add “eligible items”, with no indication whether that will cover all HRT products. For the benefit of women across the country and as a matter of urgency, can the Minister please provide a comprehensive list of eligible products?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

I thank the hon. Lady for her work in this space. I responded to her letter last week as quickly as possible and I am glad she has received the response. I just want to confirm that from April the HRT prepayment certificate will be available to women—at £18.70 for a whole year—saving women hundreds of pounds on HRT prescriptions every year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific list of eligible products was not provided.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Carolyn Harris Lab Neath and Swansea East
Employment Women & Equalities
Context

Protection against third-party workplace harassment is being reinstated, but employers are confused about how to handle protected beliefs on sex-based rights.

Question

I am pleased that the Government are reinstating protection against third-party harassment in the workplace, but employers are frequently confused when confronted with conflicting views on sex and gender. Can my right hon. Friend confirm that the Equality and Human Rights Commission will be publishing detailed guidance to explain how employers should treat protected beliefs on sex-based rights?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

The Government will be supporting the Equality and Human Rights Commission in developing a statutory code on workplace harassment. We will be working closely on that. The Government are also preparing their own practical guidance for employers on preventing sexual harassment in the workplace, which should address the very issues my hon. Friend just raised.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Exact date of guidance release not provided.

How: Under Review

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Laura Farris
Energy Benefits & Welfare
Context

Citizens Advice reported that 600,000 households were moved to prepayment meters, potentially affecting many vulnerable people.

Question

A Citizens Advice report published in the past two weeks shows that 600,000 households were moved to prepayment meters. There are bound to be many vulnerable and disabled people who have been moved on to prepayment meters in that time. Can the Minister say what she has been doing to ensure that that practice ceases and to protect those people in future?

Answer from Mims Davies

I believe that issue is going to be discussed further between the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Work and Pensions, which provides support. I am very proud to be bringing forward the next stage of the household support fund and the cost of living payments.

Not addressed: Specific actions to prevent further use of prepayment meters were not addressed.

How: Working With Other Departments

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q6 Clive Efford Lab Eltham and Chislehurst
Ukraine
Context

The Wagner Group, a Russian state proxy, is reported to be committing atrocities against women and girls in Ukraine.

Question

The Wagner Group is reported by the UN and others to be committing atrocities, including rape, against women and girls in Ukraine on behalf of its Russian paymasters. Will the Secretary of State raise that with Cabinet colleagues and urge the Government to proscribe the group as a terrorist organisation?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

The UK condemns Russia's use of Russian-state proxies such as the Wagner Group in Ukraine and globally. While the mercenaries operating in Ukraine in support of the Russian invasion are present in other conflict settings, including Mali and the Central African Republic, and are continuing to bring us huge challenges, we continue to work with the Ukrainian Government on tackling conflict-related sexual violence.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific action against Wagner Group not addressed.

How: Continuing To Work

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q7 Nicola Richards
Education Economy Children & Families
Context

Affordable childcare is a significant issue, particularly for single parents.

Question

The average cost of a full-time nursery place for a child under 2 when there is no Government support is about £14,000 a year, and it is much more in London. Can the Minister get her Government to put in the investment needed to fix the broken childcare system so that more mothers can return to work, particularly those who are single parents and struggle to return to work because of the lack of affordable childcare?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

This is, as I mentioned earlier, an issue that the Government are working very hard on. I will raise it with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education, who can write to the hon. Lady and address those concerns more fully.

Not addressed: Specific investment details were not provided.

How: Under Review

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email