Live Women and Equalities Questions House of Commons

of hate crime was on the agenda. Questions to the Minister for women

and equality. Thank you. The Prime Minister and I

could not be clearer, we want to consign the gender pay gap to the

history books. We are introducing new regulations requiring employers

information, to drive change this. information, to drive change this.

Transparency is important, and we want to tackle the underlying causes

of the gap, so we want to see girls in a broad range of careers. The

Secretary of State, will she forego her salary from the 9th of November

until the end of the calendar year until the end of the calendar year

so she knows from personal experience what it feels like to do

the work of a male colleague for 20% less salary? Wouldn't she say that

all governments have failed in this field, and now the time is not of

declarations of change over the generation, but to seize the

legislative agenda for which you would have massive support across

the House to finally bring pay a quality to women in the country? I

am not interested in token gestures, he can give up his salary if he feel

so strongly and wants to make a statement. The important thing is

that this government is taking action on an issue his party did not

take action on for 13 years. He is right to say that this does now need

to be tackled by legislation, which is why the government will be

publishing regulation shortly to make it happen. Women over 40 in

juror the biggest gender pay gap. What policies does the Minister have

two address that problem specifically? Can I thank her very

much. She may be interested to know that in the latest gender pay gap

figures published this month, women aged between 40 and 49 had seen a

1.6% drop in the gender pay grab, which is repeated in the over 50s

and over 60s. But she is right to say that this needs to be tackled. I

regulations which will provide regulations which will provide

transparency. We're also doing a lot of work to how we can help women to

juggle caring responsibilities which come in when they are older, and

they are also able to request they are also able to request

flexible working, as introduced by this government. At the gender gap

presentation the other evening we heard how gender diversity must not

be an add-on to another role, but it seems that as Education Minister you

have had it added on as your role. But what action will be taken to

make sure there is someone dedicated in every department to make sure the

gender gap has is Scott read off? -- got rid of. I was Minister of

equality is in the last Parliament, and I took the role with me. I have

been Minister for Women longer than education. He will look at the

benches and see that the government takes its responsibilities

seriously, whether it is the gender pay gap or equalities issues, they

run through all departments and this government. Will the Minister

pay gap of all government pay gap of all government

departments and quangos, because a lot of government quangos have a

gender pay gap, and perhaps the government should sort out its own

House before lecturing everyone else. He might be interested to know

that the overall gender pay gap for civil service employees fell from

13.6% in 2014, two 12.8. In the Ministry of Justice it is 11%, and

the regulations we are publishing will also apply to the public

sector. As the information is public, I would be happy to write

last week, the annual surveys of last week, the annual surveys of

hours and earnings, the gender pay gap fell by 0.8%, to 9.5%. But in

Scotland it fell from 1.8 to 7.5. Will the Minister discussed this

with Scottish ministers, as we're cutting it faster? I was delighted

to visit Scotland recently to meet counterparts in the Scottish

successful female entrepreneurs and successful female entrepreneurs and

the meat a person doing lots of work on the government for women in

enterprise. We are stronger together because we can all learn lessons.

The gender pay gap in the finance and insurance sector is the biggest

in the land, 35%. What is the government doing to tackle that? He

sectors are already taking sectors are already

responsibility for tackling this responsibility for tackling this

issue. They are learning from the issue. They are learning from the

voluntary approach from the women on boards issues. And I am delighted

that people in the finance and insurance sector have launched

voluntary initiatives to make sure companies are publishing their own

rightly highlighted that the public rightly highlighted that the public

sector is very good at closing the gender pay gap in comparison to

the, the Resolution Foundation estimates that care workers are

collectively paid ?130 million below the national minimum wage because of

employers' failure to pay travel time and essentials to do their

jobs, such as uniforms and mobile phones. What steps is the Minister

taking to close the pay gap in this aspect of the private sector, in

which 78% of those working are women? She is right to point out

that certain sectors are very female dominated, which contributes to the

ongoing gender pay gap, so I welcome the fact that we will come onto

raising aspirations of girls in terms of the jobs they want to do

and the careers they want to go into. At in terms of enforcing the

national minimum wage, the government is committed to that, and

recently republished the list of the names of the employers who are not

which is unacceptable. The which is unacceptable. The

government has been continuing the work that was started under the

previous Coalition Government to encourage body confidence with the

aim of promoting young people is media literacy, Brazilians and

practising... -- resilience. We published guidance on teaching about

body confidence... Models, academics and professionals are coming to

Parliament to discuss what the fashion industry can do to promote

positive ideals for young people. Does she agree that a collaborative

approach is essential to tackle the lack of self-esteem that affects too

many young people? I would like to congratulate my honourable friend

for the fantastic work she does for the all-party group on body image.

She has been a fantastic champion and she is absolutely right that

effective change will only be effective change will only be

achieved by cooperation and collaboration. I met with the

British fashion Council and the campaign group to discuss how we can

make this happen for the good of those in the fashion industry, those

who aspire to it, and most importantly those who are influenced

by it. I was pleased she mentioned PSHE, and isn't it true that having

this on a good-quality bases in all schools will help promote body

confidence but also keep young people safe from inappropriate

relationships which often happen when children and young people have

low self-esteem? Just because something is statutory, doesn't mean

it has done well, and we want schools to put high-quality PSHE at

the heart of their curriculum so that young people leave school

prepared. Healthy, resilient, confident pupils are better placed

to achieve academically. It is frequently thought that this is not

a problem -- this is a problem that only affects young women, but it

affect boys and young men as well. Can us she has not lost sight of

that, and there was more about what the government is doing? He makes an

excellent point, and there is even a name for this. It is called

Manxiety. We are aware of this issue, and that is reflected in the

use of steroids, which is why the government's body confidence work is

blind to gender and is tackling young children, boys and girls,

be better understanding of what our be better understanding of what our

bodies are for. What will she do to promote breast-feeding in PSHE

decide. We do not want to give them decide. We do not want to give them

the prescriptive list on how they the prescriptive list on how they

have to teach PSHE, but we really have to teach PSHE, but we

want young people to leave school want young people to leave school

and resilient, healthy attitude to and resilient, healthy attitude to

life. Breast-feeding clearly is a strong part of that. Thanks to the

hard-working teachers across the country, more pupils are getting the

education they deserve. Girls outperform boys at primary and

secondary schools on average. Girls however are less likely to pursue

subjects like physics and maths. We are determined to tackle this. The

fewer boys attained a star grades, fewer boys attained a star grades,

what steps will she take to help boys achieve their full potential?

This is a very important issue. There is more we need to do to

address underachievement among boys, particularly among white

working-class boys, I am sorry to say. The Pupil Premium worth ?2.5

billion, which the Chancellor has committed two for the rest of this

Parliament, a quarter of White British boys are eligible for this

funding. We need to do more about explaining the young men about

careers out there, why they need skills like a maths going forward,

but also we need to think about parental engagement. A lot of

messages will come from home that education is very valuable and boys

school. Addressing the education school. Addressing the education

also important is addressing the gap also important is addressing the gap

in work. In Northern Ireland we had an event that showed that

outnumber women to be the one in one outnumber women to be the one in one

industry. I am delighted to hear industry. I am delighted to

about the event, and that was the about the event, and that was the

point I was making about needing to inspire young people about the

careers out there, the importance of subjects, and maths A-level is now

the most popular subject. We have also seen 12,000 more Stem A-level

of the last Parliament, but there is of the last Parliament, but there is

whether the disparity between the whether the disparity between the

number of male and female teachers, especially in primary schools, may

be having on the attainment level of boys? He makes an important point.

We have an excellent workforce in our primary schools, 82% of teaching

their is rated as good or outstanding. I would like to see

more male teachers, but also more female head teachers in secondary

schools. Making sure the blood supply of the country is safe is an

absolute priority. Donor to federal for men who have sex with men was

changed for a -- from lifetime to 12 months. It is again time to look at

this issue, and Public Health England undertook an anonymous

survey of donors, and the advisory committee on the safety of blood

tissues and organs will review this in 2016. The safety of blood is

paramount, but the Minister will know that when I met her in December

last year to discuss this issue, there were two matters which I was

from the agency for tissue and blood from the agency for tissue and blood

safety saying that the word of gay safety saying that the word of gay

people was somehow less valuable than the word of straight people,

and that was disgraceful. The second point is that the Minister promised

me that there would be survey work available at the time of the general

election. When I asked a written question about it, she said that

such survey work in fact is not being done, but she announces it is.

I felt that she misled me at the time. Can she say more about how

we're going to see equality in this we're going to see equality in this

issue, because many clinicians feel that it is long overdue.

We had a meeting and I can confirm that the public help England survey

has been undertaken and is being analysed. -- health. I do not recall

that an official made that point. The blood service does not

discriminate on sexual orientation and lesbians are free to give blood

and their donations are appreciated. The deferral period is based on

sexual activity and applies to a number of groups, other than men who

have sex with men. It will be reviewed in light of the PSHE

survey. Question six. This government is clear that women

should be confident they are safe in public spaces. We are bearing down

on those whose criminal actions impinge on this right. We made

progress. CPS data showed the highest number of convictions for

crimes. We are refreshing the strategy, including providing more

options for intervention to prevent harassment, assault and abuse.

Commission is leading the campaign to make Bristol a 0 tolerance city

for gender-based violence. How can other cities help? This government

is committed to making sure that violence against women and girls is

unacceptable and will not be tolerated in society and I look

forward to hearing about the work being done in Bristol. Does my

honourable friend agree that it is vital to provide protection for

victims of stalking, often those also affected by domestic violence,

sometimes targeted and followed from family courts, in order to bring

more perpetrators to justice? She makes an important point. Testimony

I have heard from victims of stalking shows the incredibly

invasive nature of this crime and how damaging it is psychologically

and emotionally, and we are determined that we will tackle this,

including the introduction of the domestic abuse control offence which

will commence shortly, to make sure all domestic abuse is an offence and

the police have the weapons they need. Councillor Michael Pavey in

Brent Council organised a fantastic event recently about women's safety,

FGM and violence but he was disappointed that the audience was

mostly female. Do you have any ideas how to increase the issue with men?

You make an important point. Far too often I go to events where the

audience is predominately if not exclusively the Melbourne yesterday

I supported the White ribbon campaign which is a campaign for

men. The more we can do with campaigns like that and more

awareness raising, the more we can encourage people to know that this

is an issue which affects all members of society no matter their

gender. What assessment has been made of the impact of the two new

specific offences introduced in 2012, stalking and stalking

involving fear of violence? My honourable friend asks about the

stalking offences. We have seen some success with and we are seeing more

police forces using the stalking offences and making sure victims are

protect it. It is so important that we protect victims and give them the

support we need and make sure the perpetrators are dealt with in such

a way that they cannot get to the AIDS victims, and they suffer the

right penalties. -- gets to the victims. BMME women face high levels

of abuse and research shows the incidence of crime against Muslims

has increased. What steps can the Minister take to stamp out gender,

afraid and racially motivated violence against women and girls?

The honourable member will know that the government announced it is

publishing new data to show racially motivated hate crime, but sickly

Muslim hate crime, because we agree that we need to understand the scale

of the problem and ensure that it is not acceptable. -- but especially.

There can be no excuse for this hatred. I am grateful to the

Minister. But she recognised that the women's sector is under enormous

pressure, especially specialist organisations which support BMME

women? A charity was forced to close earlier this month and a survey

report 67% of its members are unsure about the future stability of its

funding. Isn't it time for a proper sustainable strategy for victims of

sexual violence rather than gimmicky short-term fixes like the tampon

tax? I think it is a shame that the honourable lady is making that

comment. While we are in the position where we have to pay that

VAT, I think it is right, and I congratulate my honourable friend

for Colchester for coming up with the idea, to provide additional

support for services. It is not that many weeks ago that the party

opposite voted for a 10% cut in please funding. This party has

maintained please funding and that will make sure that victims of those

horrendous crimes at the support they need to stop... That they need.

We cannot have true opportunity without real quality. I am proud

that we have more women in work, on wards, and the lowest pay gap on

record across the UK but we must make progress and stop women will be

the main beneficiaries of the increase in the new living wage and

the rise in personal allowance. As she acknowledged earlier, the

majority of care workers overwhelmingly are women, they face

low pay, zero hour contracts, and as a consequence of financial pressures

on the sector. The chief executive of care England was clear that the

recent announcement will not let the funding gap in the care sector. --

Care. One of the greatest Ings we can do is the introduction of the

national living wage which will benefit proportionally more women

than men, and it is something that employers will have to pay. Does my

right honourable friend that people should be able to pursue careers

without worrying about their sex, sexuality or sexual identity, and

that everybody has the right pursue a full role in the workplace? She

puts it really well. I want to answer that in the context of

transgender people who faces a in the workplace and their lives, and

that is why I am publishing guidance for employers and service providers

to improve knowledge and understanding in supporting those

who are transgender. An important step but I want to raise awareness

of the issues and discrimination facing transgender people. With

permission I would like to answer question eight and 11 together. The

government is determined to increase the number of people studying stem

subjects, and sickly goals. There are 12,000 more entrants over the

last five years but more needs to be done. That is why we are improving

the physics network, and holding a campaign to transform perceptions of

science and. -- maths. I know the benefits of choosing stem subjects

in schools and I am pleased this government is encouraging more girls

into the area. Does the Minister agree that alongside the promotion

of this, it is vital that young people receive good careers advice

and guidance, particularly girls, so they can go on to succeed in the

stem related industries? My honourable friend is right. We know

girls often perform poorly at school but do not necessarily study the

subject at a level and that is why we are delighted to set up the new

enterprise company which will strengthen links between employers

and schools, and hopefully inspire the next generation of engineers,

showing them how interesting and varied careers in engineering can

be. In September, a new engineering company opened and I am thrilled

many local girls are part of the new intake. To what extent have industry

been involved in the campaign to inspire more girls to consider a

career in stem? Is the honourable lady outlined, it is a fantastic

industry led and industry funded campaign and I know everybody is

committed to inspiring the next generation of boys, but particularly

girls into the importance of stem, and I experienced it first hand when

I visited that in and the Ford motor company, the spiritual home of the

fight for equal pay. -- visited that in Dagenham. The government has

supported a range of initiatives to inspire young people into

engineering, including many goals. In 2010, the number of women

starting engineering apprenticeships has trebled to 4800 and I am pleased

that the National physics laboratory has over half female apprentices. By

protecting the science budget, we are ensuring a strong science base

that will benefit the entire UK. I thank the Minister for his reply and

I would urge the Minister to come to my constituency with me because

there are exciting projects for the graduate may I also invite the

Minister to a nursery school in my constituency which is promoting

engineering for six and seven-year-olds by inviting our

great inventor Trevor Bayliss to show them what can be done with

Meccano sets. Will he join me in asking toy manufacturers in making

these kits for five-year-olds and up? I am always delighted to go to

Britain and welcome this successful initiative. Dripping is part of a

bigger national story in which we have more women led businesses than

ever before, around 1 million. -- Twickenham. It is an increase of

170,000 over the number in 2010. It is important to show young girls and

boys the fantastic careers that engineering provides. To do that,

specifically for girls, we need engineering companies to engage with

schools. What discussions is he having with ministers to ensure

engineering company is confined schools to engage with? I have

regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Education and

the careers and enterprise company that is set up in DFB plays a

coordinating role that the honourable member refers to -- DFE.

My right honourable friend the Home Secretary asked Stephen Shore to

review the detention of vulnerable individuals and his report and the

government response will be published before the immigration

Bill and blade is patted through Parliament. -- complete its passage.

99 pregnant women were detained at the aisles words. My understanding

is that there is still some cases, can you Expedia eight these cases?

-- Yarlswood. I will make sure the Home Office looks at the cases you

raise. Regnant women should not be routinely be detained but the Home

Office is currently looking at the report and will publish it before

the immigration Bill. I will agree with the honourable lady. This is a

big problem but it is about the providers. What discussions will she

have with providers, including G4S, about the detention of pregnant

women? The Home Office has regular discussions with providers to make

sure that appropriate treatment is given to all of honourable people

held in detention, but as I will repeat, the Stephen sure review will

be published shortly. -- Shaw. We are making real progress in

increasing the number of women of public boards, with 44% of new

appointment is made to women. Steps to increase diversity include

streamlining applications, increasing awareness of

opportunities via a sensual websites and social media. -- essential.

There has been success in nonexecutive roles but much less

success in decision-making, operational roles. Only 8% of FTSE

directors are women in executive positions. The quotas are focusing

on the wrong metric and can undermine progress in this key

area. I completely agree with my honourable friend that there is an

abundance of talented women who have the right skills and experience for

these positions. Government and business much work together to level

the playing field and encourage women to work their way up The

Executive pipeline and that is why the government will establish a new

review focusing on The Executive layer in FTSE 350 bodies.

Statement, the Prime Minister. I said I would respond personally to

the foreign affairs select committee report on extending British military

today, and copies of my response today, and copies of my response

have been made available to every member of the House. The committee

produced a comprehensive report, which asked a series of important

listen carefully to the questions listen carefully to the questions

and views expressed by members on all sides of the House. I want to

try to answer all of