Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Women in the Workplace

Wednesday 9 October 2024 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister pledged to provide protections from maternity discrimination and sexual harassment.
  • Supporting women to return and progress at work is crucial for economic growth.
  • Minister agrees more action is needed beyond lip service to punish perpetrators of violence against women.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Becky Gittins Lab Clwyd East
Women & Equalities
Context

The MP is concerned about discrimination and harassment faced by women at work and the need for economic growth through increased female participation.

Question

What steps she is taking to support women in the workplace. I am concerned about protections from maternity discrimination and sexual harassment, speeding up progress on the gender pay gap, and strengthening equal pay protections.

Answer from Anneliese Dodds

We will provide protections from maternity discrimination and sexual harassment. We will speed up progress on the gender pay gap and strengthen equal pay protections. The steps we will take will enable women everywhere to thrive and transform their working lives for the better.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific timeline or concrete actions were provided.

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Q2 Becky Gittins Lab Clwyd East
Economy Employment Women & Equalities
Context

The MP references comments made by Opposition leadership contenders and argues for creating conditions to encourage more women back into work.

Question

Does the Minister agree that, unlike some of the incredibly worrying comments we have heard from Opposition leadership contenders this week, in order to grow our economy we need to create the conditions to encourage and support more women back into the workplace?

Answer from Anneliese Dodds

I strongly agree. Supporting women to return and to progress at work is a crucial part of securing economic growth. This Labour Government are on the side of new mothers, which is why our plan to make work pay commits to strengthening their workplace protections, improving access to flexible working and creating the conditions for all parents to balance work and care.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific timeline or concrete actions were provided.

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Q3 Carla Lockhart DUP Upper Bann
Northern Ireland Women & Equalities
Context

The MP highlights recent femicides in Northern Ireland, advocating for stronger action against perpetrators.

Question

Four women have been brutally killed in the past six weeks in Northern Ireland. Does the Minister agree that we need to do more than just pay lip service to supporting women, whether in the home or in the workplace, to punish these perpetrators?

Answer from Anneliese Dodds

I absolutely agree. It is extremely concerning whenever we hear of what happens to women in the home, in the workplace or on the streets. Women deserve to be safe, as do girls. That is why this Government are acting at pace to ensure that, for example, we have domestic abuse specialists in emergency rooms and specialist rape crisis centres.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific timeline or concrete actions were provided.

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Q4 Sarah Owen Lab Luton North
Women & Equalities
Context

The MP raises Baby Loss Awareness Week, advocating for paid bereavement leave following baby loss.

Question

Today marks the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week. Does the Minister agree that all workers could and should benefit from the right to bereavement leave following baby loss?

Answer from Anneliese Dodds

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that question and congratulate her on becoming the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee. I know she has campaigned for many months on this issue, and I am pleased to see progress among some major employers.

Not addressed: No specific timeline or concrete actions were provided.

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