Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Wednesday 9 October 2024 · 6 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial commitment to support women based on ethnic, racial, or cultural background was affirmed.
  • Funding and commitment to critical issues will remain, with further plans to be announced shortly.
  • Minister rejected criticism of maternity pay, emphasizing its economic and social benefits.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Meg Hillier Labour (Co-op) Hackney South and Shoreditch
Women & Equalities
Context

A constituent, Valerie Forde, was murdered by her partner. The questioner seeks the Minister to reconsider supporting women based on their ethnic, racial or cultural background.

Question

Will the Minister reconsider and examine the support needed for women because of their ethnic, and racial or cultural background?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for all the campaigning work that she has done in this crucial area in the face of the tragic loss of Valerie Forde. We must do everything we can to ensure that all victims of violence against women and girls receive the support that they need. I will make arrangements for her to discuss further with a Home Office Minister what more we need to do, particularly around police training and standards.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific law is not addressed directly; instead, general commitment to work on it without specifics.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Mims Davies Con East Grinstead and Uckfield
NHS
Context

The questioner highlights the success of an HIV and hepatitis testing programme that has diagnosed over 1,300 people with HIV in its first two years.

Question

Will the Minister assure the House that the funding and commitment will remain?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

I thank the hon. Lady for raising such an important issue, on which all Members across the House want to make progress. Officials are working on further plans, which we will set out very shortly, but we will be keen to work with her and colleagues across the House to make sure that we eradicate new HIV and AIDS infections.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitment or timeline for continued funding mentioned; more general statement about further plans being worked on.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Steve Race Lab Exeter
Women & Equalities
Context

The questioner inquires if the Minister agrees with a statement from a Tory leadership candidate that maternity pay has 'gone too far'.

Question

Is the Minister of the view that maternity pay, in the words of one Tory leadership candidate, has “gone too far”?

Answer from Anneliese Dodds

Absolutely not, and my hon. Friend is right to mention the fact that that kind of assessment flies in the face of not only common sense, but all the economic evidence. When we support women to return to work and to progress at work, while being able to spend time with their families, we grow our economy—something that this Government are determined to do.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Wendy Morton Con Aldridge-Brownhills
Education Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The questioner asks about the continuity of funding to support women's and girls' football which was committed by the previous Government.

Question

Can the Minister confirm that that funding will continue?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

I assure the right hon. Lady that we are absolutely determined to encourage our women and girls to take part in sport and physical activity—something that falls off all too often as girls reach their teenage years. In my work in the Department for Education, through the curriculum and assessment review, we are looking at what more schools can do, and going beyond that, we are working with sporting bodies to deliver more.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific funding details provided; instead, general commitment to encourage participation in sport.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Joe Morris Lab Hexham
Transport
Context

The questioner raises concerns about accessing rail stations in Hexham, especially for disabled individuals.

Question

Will the Minister work with the Department for Transport to ensure that Great British Railways puts disabled access at the heart of its plans?

Answer from Stephen Timms

Yes, we will. Accessibility is at the heart of the Government's passenger-focused approach, and with a unified rail network, we will be able to meet accessibility needs more reliably and consistently and plan how best to improve accessibility across the entire network.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email
Q6 Kirsty Blackman SNP Aberdeen North
NHS Women & Equalities
Context

The questioner refers to commitments made on the implementation of the Cass review and seeks further assurances regarding access to healthcare and reducing waiting lists.

Question

Will they commit themselves to ensuring that trans people do have access to the healthcare that they need, and to ensuring that waiting lists are brought down as soon as possible?

Answer from Anneliese Dodds

The hon. Member is right to draw attention to the very long waiting lists currently experienced by many people. I know that the Health Secretary is focusing on the issue, as well as on LGBT health more broadly—indeed, on health for everyone—as part of our mission to get the NHS off the floor and off its knees and working for everyone in the country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitment given regarding access or reducing waiting times; instead, a general statement about addressing long waiting lists.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email