Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Supporting Women into Work

Wednesday 13 November 2024 · 3 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Parents of pre-school children in South Devon face difficulties finding nursery or pre-school places due to financial constraints.
  • The Government is expanding Government-funded childcare with an initial 1.8 billion investment, rolling out 3,000 new or expanded primary-based nurseries.
  • The Minister agrees more can be done to support survivors of domestic violence through better workplace policies, paid leave, and flexible working options.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Caroline Voaden Lib Dem South Devon
Women & Equalities Children & Families
Context

The question arises from the difficulty parents, often mothers in South Devon, face due to a lack of nursery and pre-school places.

Question

Parents of pre-school children in South Devon are finding it all but impossible to find nursery or pre-school places. This financial pressure makes it difficult for women who would like to return to work after having children. How will the Department for Education and the Office for Equality and Opportunity work together to ensure support?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

We are expanding Government-funded childcare with an initial £1.8 billion, rolling out 3,000 new or expanded primary-based nurseries. Applications are open, and schools are encouraged to participate.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Details on how the Department for Education and the Office for Equality and Opportunity will specifically collaborate

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Q2 Caroline Voaden Lib Dem South Devon
Employment Women & Equalities
Context

The all-party parliamentary group on domestic violence and abuse was reconstituted, focusing on gender pay gap issues.

Question

Survivors of domestic violence face a persistent gender pay gap. Does the Minister agree more could be done to support survivors with domestic abuse policies in workplaces, paid leave, and flexible working?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

I agree that more can be asked of employers. The Government is committed to achieving this, especially through gender pay gap action plans and halving violence against women.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Concrete actions or policies for paid leave and flexible working in workplaces

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Q3 Apsana Begum Lab Poplar and Limehouse
Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation warned that single-parent families will be £1,000 worse off by 2029 due to the increase in employers' national insurance contributions.

Question

Single-parent families, mostly headed by women, will lose an average of £1,000 a year under Labour's budget. Has the Minister assessed the impact on single-parent households from scrapping child benefit changes?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

We are committed to transforming lives, including those of single parents. We will drive down child poverty levels contrary to Labour's actions.

Not addressed: Assessment of the negative impact on single-parent households from removing child benefit changes for them

How: Changing Subject

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