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PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
Topical Questions - 25 November 2020 (Commons/Commons Chamber)

Debate Detail

Contributions from Marsha De Cordova, are highlighted with a yellow border.
Con
Mary Robinson 
Cheadle
  If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.
Elizabeth Truss
The Minister for Women and Equalities
As we recover from covid, I am determined that we ensure that everyone across Britain is treated equally and has equal opportunity. The Equality and Human Rights Commission is critical to delivering that. I am delighted that, as well as announcing—Baroness Kishwer— Falkner as my preferred chair, I have appointed four new commissioners with a diverse range of opinions and backgrounds—a leading tech entrepreneur, a leading thinker, a pioneering health expert and a business leader—who are all committed to equality.
Mary Robinson [V]
While the global focus has been on dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, other important issues also need our attention, particularly the rising rates of female genital mutilation. What measures is my right hon. Friend taking to tackle FGM internationally?
Elizabeth Truss
My hon. Friend makes a very good point. This is an issue of concern for the Government. According to the UN Population Fund, the covid-19 pandemic could disrupt efforts towards ending FGM. We cannot let that happen. That is why we are continuing with UK Aid supported programmes on FGM, which have already helped 10,000 communities.
Lab [V]
Marsha De Cordova
Battersea
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The latest Office for National Statistics figures show that 1.6 million women experienced domestic abuse last year. Since the pandemic began, domestic abuse has intensified and women have reported finding it harder to escape, 10 years of sustained cuts to services have left just 4,000 beds available for women who are fleeing domestic violence. It is obvious that the funding provided so far is too little too late, so can the Minister say when the Government will fund services adequately and give women the confidence they need, so that they will be protected by this Government?
Elizabeth Truss
We are concerned about domestic abuse during the pandemic. That is why we have provided an extra £76 million to support vulnerable people, including domestic abuse victims, and we have recently made available a further £11 million to support domestic abuse services as they continue to manage the impacts of the pandemic.
Marsha De Cordova
The gender pay gap is still sitting at around 15%. At the current rate of progress, more than 8 million women working today will retire before they see equal pay. That sends a message to women that this Government are happy to turn back the clock on women’s equal pay. I am going to ask the Minister a straightforward question, yes or no: will she restart gender pay gap reporting in April next year?
Elizabeth Truss
Our focus is on making sure that we are helping women during the coronavirus crisis, through the furlough scheme, through making sure that flexible working and childcare support are available, and through making sure that we get more women into jobs. My view is that we need to address the causes of the gender pay gap by, for instance, getting more girls and women studying science, technology, engineering and maths subject, so that they are able to earn higher amounts in their careers.
Con
Andrew Jones
Harrogate and Knaresborough
The impact of the pandemic on unemployment is being felt in every constituency. It is more important than ever to ensure that those living with disabilities are treated equally in the recruitment process, so what steps is my right hon. Friend The Minister for Women and Equalities taking to ensure that protections that support equality throughout the recruitment process stay prominent as we focus now on recovery?
Justin Tomlinson
The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work
I thank my hon. Friend, who is a real champion for disability employment opportunities in his constituency. As part of our £30 billion plan for jobs, disability provision is embedded throughout our schemes, including kickstart, the job entry targeted support scheme, sector-based academies, apprenticeships, the Work and Health programme, intensive personalised employment support and Access to Work. We remind employers that, under the Equality Act 2010, they must focus on ability, not health or disability.
Lab [V]
Mr Virendra Sharma
Ealing, Southall
I will be hosting a national group of experts on decolonising the British curriculum in January 2021. Will the Secretary of State attend that event to listen to the expert testimonies from the academics regarding this important issue?
Kemi Badenoch
The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. As I said in a recent debate on this topic, we do not accept the premise that the curriculum in this country is colonised. While I am always very interested in hearing the viewpoints about how we can improve the curriculum, there are certain premises that we simply will not accept.
Con [V]
Mrs Pauline Latham
Mid Derbyshire
What recent steps has the Minister taken with Cabinet colleagues to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services for young people during the covid-19 outbreak?
Kemi Badenoch
Sexual and reproductive health services have remained open during the pandemic. Services are maintaining access during this time through the scaling up of online services. Guidance from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare states that local pathways for urgent referral for vulnerable groups, including via young people’s outreach, should be maintained.
Lab
Bell Ribeiro-Addy
Streatham
The EHRC report on the hostile environment released today shows just how bad the situation has been over the years. It is clear that the EHRC does not have the capacity to launch an inquiry into every piece of legislation that has had its equality compliance questioned. Will the Minister explain what steps are being taken to ensure that future legislation is not labelled as complying with the public sector duty when it clearly does not do so?
Elizabeth Truss
It is very important that we conduct equality impact assessments, but it is also important that they are kept confidential within the Government to ensure that there is not a chilling effect and we are able to have an honest debate about achieving equality across all Departments.
Con
Andrea Leadsom
South Northamptonshire
  My right hon. Friend will be aware that more than half a million new babies were born during the first lockdown. What assessment has she made for the many women who have had to struggle with juggling childcare responsibilities with going back to work during this very difficult year?
Elizabeth Truss
First, I congratulate my right hon. Friend on her important work leading the early years healthy development review. I completely agree that we need to ensure that people are protected during the lockdown and that they are helped, as we recover from covid, to find better childcare options and better flexible working options. I am working closely with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to achieve that.

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