Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Wednesday 11 March 2026 · 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

  • The average diagnosis time for endometriosis in the UK has risen to eight years and 10 months according to the latest report from Endometriosis UK.
  • Calls were made to weaponize the Government's Islamophobia definition to stifle free speech within hours of its publication.
  • The Government announced they would introduce a draft race and disability equality Bill in the King's Speech eighteen months ago, but it has not yet been published.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mohammad Yasin Lab Bedford
NHS Women & Equalities
Context

A report from Endometriosis UK indicates an average diagnosis time of eight years and 10 months in the UK. Bedford and Kempston residents, including a staff member with a rare form of the condition, face long delays for treatment.

Question

The latest report from Endometriosis UK shows that the average diagnosis time in the United Kingdom has risen to eight years and 10 months. Constituents of mine in Bedford and Kempston, including a staff member with a rare form of the condition, still face long delays for treatment. Will the Minister set improved targets and mandate GP training on recognising endometriosis in the women's health strategy to speed up diagnosis?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

My hon. Friend is right: women often spend years being dismissed, being misdiagnosed, or just not being listened to. That is unacceptable, and we are determined to tackle it. In order to improve early diagnosis of the condition, we continue to roll out community diagnostic centres, and our renewed women's health strategy, which we will publish soon, will focus on speeding up diagnosis and treatment of both mental health and gynaecological conditions, including endometriosis.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Setting specific targets and mandating GP training

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Q2 Mohammad Yasin Lab Bedford
Community Security
Context

Calls from within the Labour party to weaponise the Government's Islamophobia definition to stifle free speech have emerged, leading to concerns about the safety of women and girls.

Question

Within an hour of the Government's publication of their Islamophobia definition this week, there were calls from within the Labour party for it to be weaponised to stifle free speech, but we know that there have been multiple cases of our public services being too scared of being called Islamophobic to speak freely to save women and girls from serious harm. Can the Minister explain why the Labour party thought it was worth trading the safety of women and girls for their own narrow political interests?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

What absolute rubbish. This is a serious issue. We know that there are people who want to pull our country apart, but I am proud that we live in a multi-ethnic, diverse and tolerant nation where we celebrate our shared values. It is right that we take action against anti-Muslim hatred in our country, as we take action on antisemitism, and we have set out further steps in that regard. It is completely unacceptable that anyone should face intimidation or harassment on the basis of their faith, but that is not in conflict with our fundamental belief in the right to freedom of speech.

Not addressed: Explaining Labour party's stance on safety of women and girls

How: What Absolute Rubbish

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Q3 Claire Coutinho Con East Surrey
Women & Equalities
Context

The Government announced the draft race and disability equality Bill in the King's Speech eighteen months ago, but it has not yet been published. A year after the consultation was launched, there is no draft Bill.

Question

Eighteen months ago in the King's Speech, the Government announced that they would introduce a draft race and disability equality Bill, but we have not yet seen it. Next week it will be a year since the consultation was launched. When will we see the draft Bill, and what will the process of scrutiny be?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

I welcome the hon. Lady's interest in this issue. Good progress has been made on developing the policy, and we will publish the Government's response as soon as we can, as well as setting out next steps in respect of legislation that we will present. This was a key manifesto commitment, and we will deliver on it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline for publication

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Q4 Kirsty Blackman SNP Aberdeen North
Employment Women & Equalities
Context

The wage gap between the Isle of Wight and the rest of the UK leaves full-time island employees £5,500 a year worse off in comparison with the national average, while female islanders are £8,000 worse off.

Question

The wage gap between the Isle of Wight and the rest of the UK—I know that Conservative Members love the Isle of Wight, but they did nothing about it when they were in power. The wage gap between the Isle of Wight and the rest of the UK leaves full-time island employees about £5,500 a year worse off in comparison with the national average, while female islanders are about £8,000 worse off. Will the Minister work with Cabinet colleagues as a matter of urgency to address the island wage gap, particularly for women, and does she agree that closing that gap is good for women, good for communities and good for growth?

Answer from Seema Malhotra

I firmly agree that women's equality and economic growth go hand in hand. That is why I was pleased to join the Minister for Women and Equalities in formally launching the action plans last week, so that large employers will be encouraged to set out the steps that they are taking to narrow their gender pay gap. This will ensure that women are able to thrive in the workplace across the country, including on the Isle of Wight.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Addressing the island wage gap specifically

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