Gender Equality Fiscal Policies 2021-12-07
2021-12-07
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from the need to assess how recent fiscal policies affect gender equality in society.
What recent assessment has been made of the effect of his fiscal policies on gender equality?
Our fiscal policies support the Government's ambition of creating a fairer and more equal society, and women are among those who will benefit the most. For example, women are expected to benefit disproportionately from the Government's increase to the national living wage to £9.50 for workers aged 23 and above, as well as the rise in the national minimum wage for young people and apprentices.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific impact assessment requested is not provided, only general claims of benefits to women are made.
General Claims
No Detailed Assessment
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
In the Livingston constituency, there are approximately 6,500 WASPI women who have been affected by changes in state pension ages and feel they received a broken promise.
I am glad you found someone to answer, Mr Speaker. Some 6,500 women in my Livingston constituency are WASPI women and they are furious. When I recently met them with the Women Against State Pension Inequality co-ordinator Carla O'Hara, there was anger and anxiety and there were many, many tears. Will the Minister tell me and the WASPI women from his constituency and from the constituencies of Members throughout this Chamber whether the “fresh vigour and new eyes” that the Prime Minister promised back in July 2019 is still on the table? Or is it, yet again, another broken promise?
The Government have always considered this issue, which goes back over the past decade, very carefully. For the purposes of intergenerational fairness and the wider sustainability of our pension settlement into the future, it is vital that that settlement is reflective of longer life expectancy. I am afraid that is the underpinning principle of the Government's work and we stand resolutely behind it.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific promise mentioned by WASPI women was not addressed; instead, a general statement on pension policy principles was provided.
Changes Subject
Does Not Address Previous Promises
Response accuracy