Women and Equalities Questions

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:00:00. > :00:00.the Scottish people and they will have to live with it. Questions to

:00:00. > :00:13.the Minister for women and equality is. Number one. There are 306 to

:00:14. > :00:17.5000 more disabled people in work than two years ago. Our ambition to

:00:18. > :00:22.halve the disability employment gap is a key priority for the

:00:23. > :00:26.government. People currently in the work-related activity group will not

:00:27. > :00:31.see their payments reduced, however all new claimants from April 2017

:00:32. > :00:36.well and that includes many people who have learning disabilities and

:00:37. > :00:42.need the same support as people... Will further cuts in the incomes of

:00:43. > :00:47.the table people helped to work? Those that would be in the support

:00:48. > :00:50.group will see no changes at all. On the specific area of those with

:00:51. > :00:57.learning disabilities, we set up a task force jointly with XXX chaired

:00:58. > :00:59.by the bishops for Blackpool, Cleethorpes and the best ways to

:01:00. > :01:03.access the apprenticeship scheme for those with learning disabilities

:01:04. > :01:08.have a greater chance of opportunities of work. Can the

:01:09. > :01:11.Minister confirm strong conversations are occurring

:01:12. > :01:16.regarding the value of the access to work scheme the, the government 's

:01:17. > :01:20.continued commitment to it? It was race this weekend by two disabled

:01:21. > :01:24.working people in my constituency in Eastleigh who are concerned the

:01:25. > :01:28.government 's commitment isn't there for it and could be let down.

:01:29. > :01:34.Accessed the work is an incredibly important part of our levers towards

:01:35. > :01:40.commitment to halve the disappointing point gap. We have

:01:41. > :01:51.seen and additional funding to build and record numbers of 30 7000. What

:01:52. > :01:54.Russia now was therefore the Secretary of State for Work and

:01:55. > :01:58.Pensions gap in the White Paper on health and work programme and

:01:59. > :02:01.punting it back to a Green paper for indiscriminate time? Surely by

:02:02. > :02:05.punting that into the long grass we will be harming the chances of

:02:06. > :02:10.people returning to work from health or disability perspective. My

:02:11. > :02:15.discussions with stakeholders gives a very different view because a

:02:16. > :02:18.green paper gives an opportunity. Cold as with genuine first-hand

:02:19. > :02:20.real-life experiences to help shape our future policies and make sure

:02:21. > :02:28.that we do the very best for those vulnerable people in society. The

:02:29. > :02:33.job centres disability employment service has a ratio of one adviser

:02:34. > :02:38.providing support to 600 disabled people. This they key cause for

:02:39. > :02:42.concern and is highlighted by the work and pensions select committee

:02:43. > :02:45.inquiry in December 20 14. Does the miniature believe that this

:02:46. > :02:48.inadequate ratio is part of the reason is set to fell its employment

:02:49. > :02:53.targets for people with disabilities?

:02:54. > :03:00.We have seen 365,000 more disabled people coming to work in the past

:03:01. > :03:10.two years. There will be further work as we work towards our

:03:11. > :03:17.ambitious claim to half the gap. All job coaches have extensive training,

:03:18. > :03:26.the multi-skilled, but we will also increase those numbers, recognising

:03:27. > :03:32.the feedback from the report. Women returners often have a lot of skills

:03:33. > :03:36.that offer great value to the workforce. We will be extending the

:03:37. > :03:45.personal support to parents of children aged three or four from

:03:46. > :03:51.April 2017. Three forms include the National minimum wage, flexible

:03:52. > :03:58.working, which will help women make the transition back to work. We know

:03:59. > :04:02.the majority of single parents are women, so they will be hit hard by

:04:03. > :04:09.the cuts to allowances. Does the Minister agree that these will

:04:10. > :04:14.damage incentives for low-income women, acting as a barrier to

:04:15. > :04:17.returning to work? The national living wage will impact women more

:04:18. > :04:21.than anyone, which will make such a massive difference to women,

:04:22. > :04:25.particularly single mothers. A lot of what the government is doing has

:04:26. > :04:29.women and men than women getting back into work, which is why we see

:04:30. > :04:35.more women in the workplace than ever before. Will the Minister

:04:36. > :04:44.consider that for women returning to work after having a child, flexible

:04:45. > :04:47.working from the outset as a default, rather than having to wait

:04:48. > :04:59.six months before they can ask for it? We have a package of measures

:05:00. > :05:02.for women returning to work, affordable childcare, flexible

:05:03. > :05:07.childcare, flexible working, which up to 20 million people in the UK

:05:08. > :05:15.can now apply for. The measures really do support women who want to

:05:16. > :05:18.return to work. Many women wish to go back to work but find that they

:05:19. > :05:23.are essentially earning wages to pay for childcare. Can I ask, what is

:05:24. > :05:28.the government doing to address the issue of part-time flexible hours

:05:29. > :05:32.for those women who want to go back, and for the women who are being

:05:33. > :05:37.discriminated because of the need for more flexible working? I was one

:05:38. > :05:42.of those women under the former Labour government, literally working

:05:43. > :05:45.to pay for my childcare. I am so proud that this government has done

:05:46. > :05:48.more than any other to make childcare are affordable and

:05:49. > :05:52.flexible, so parents with children aged three to four will be able to

:05:53. > :06:02.access up to 30 hours of childcare. We will get to the honourable

:06:03. > :06:06.gentleman in due course. Fear not. This government has cut workers

:06:07. > :06:10.rights, attack the trade unions ability to organise and legislated

:06:11. > :06:14.to block women's access to justice, the EU has protected maternity

:06:15. > :06:17.rights, strength and paternity rights and upheld our fundamental

:06:18. > :06:21.rights. Does the Minister agree that EU membership will protect these

:06:22. > :06:28.rights for women returning to employment? I do not agree that this

:06:29. > :06:31.government has undermined women's rates, but I agree that the EU has

:06:32. > :06:45.done an enormous amount to protect them. -- there rights. Child neglect

:06:46. > :06:50.and abuse are part. Those who are guilty must be brought to justice.

:06:51. > :06:57.This is a matter for the independent judiciary, taking in a number of

:06:58. > :07:02.factors, including the seriousness of offence, mitigating factors and a

:07:03. > :07:09.guilty plea, but the framework is gender free. According to the

:07:10. > :07:14.Ministry of Justice, 33% of men can dig of cruelty and neglect of

:07:15. > :07:20.children have been sent to prison for the last available period, and

:07:21. > :07:29.only 15% of women, which does not sound gender neutral. -- men

:07:30. > :07:33.convicted. Can she explain why there is such a huge discrepancy between

:07:34. > :07:36.those figures? Surely she cannot give her normal answer that women

:07:37. > :07:41.are not being sent to prison to spend more time with their children,

:07:42. > :07:52.given the nature of the crimes. Of course, every case is different, and

:07:53. > :07:56.sentencing is gender neutral. The same guidelines and principles of

:07:57. > :08:02.sentencing apply to every case. But you can use data to prove anything.

:08:03. > :08:05.In 2014 the average cost or deals sentence for child cruelty or

:08:06. > :08:12.neglect was the same for men and women, at in 2015, on average women

:08:13. > :08:21.received longer sentences than men for child cruelty or neglect. Has

:08:22. > :08:27.she seen disturbing evidence recently of women can fit to DOS

:08:28. > :08:34.nonviolent crime, often fraud, given horrendously long sentences, when

:08:35. > :08:43.they should be serving in their community? -- women convict did of

:08:44. > :08:47.nonviolent crimes. The Secretary of State and the Ministry of Justice is

:08:48. > :08:51.keen on looking at alternatives to custody, particularly when an

:08:52. > :08:53.individual has child caring responsibilities, so we're putting

:08:54. > :09:00.an effort into things like electronic tagging. Does the

:09:01. > :09:06.Minister agree that universal access to family planning and maternity

:09:07. > :09:13.services is paramount to the health and equality of women and girls, and

:09:14. > :09:16.how will she ensure that migrant women access maternity services in

:09:17. > :09:25.the UK when they have no means for paying? In relation to those in

:09:26. > :09:34.prison, having been found guilty of child neglect and abuse...

:09:35. > :09:40.LAUGHTER They think it is fair to say that it is a testing question.

:09:41. > :09:43.-- I think it is fair to say. I am not aware that birth control is a

:09:44. > :09:54.massive issue within women's prisons. I hope it isn't! That I

:09:55. > :10:00.will take a look at it. Yes... LAUGHTER

:10:01. > :10:14.My department has set an ambition for 20% increase for A-level in

:10:15. > :10:17.maths and science. Those working in science and

:10:18. > :10:22.technology careers pay on average 19% more than other professions,

:10:23. > :10:26.some or debating girls to study the subject is important if we are to

:10:27. > :10:31.eliminate the gender pay gap. Given that nursing is now a graduate entry

:10:32. > :10:39.profession, and STEM subjects form part of student nurses course, and

:10:40. > :10:45.given that junior doctors take on the role of many junior doctors,

:10:46. > :10:51.does the Minister agree that nursing is a STEM career, and women and men

:10:52. > :10:57.should aspire to that? -- students nurses take on the role of many

:10:58. > :11:00.junior doctors. I agree that nursing is a arguable courier for young

:11:01. > :11:05.women and men. We are strengthening careers provision for young people

:11:06. > :11:13.across England, and projects funded will do just that. She may be aware

:11:14. > :11:20.of a project in East Sussex aiming to increase apprenticeships that are

:11:21. > :11:23.taken up. Due to ongoing cultural stereotypes and a lack of visible

:11:24. > :11:28.role models, many women do not realise the fantastic opportunities

:11:29. > :11:32.that engineering and STEM offer, until they have left formal

:11:33. > :11:36.education. So what is the Minister doing to ensure they are routes

:11:37. > :11:42.available for retraining older women, particularly through adult

:11:43. > :11:50.education? Can I agree that it is very important that we tackle gender

:11:51. > :11:54.stereotyping in careers. In schools we have mentioned things like the

:11:55. > :12:01.STEM Ambassador network, but afterwards, and the skills Minister

:12:02. > :12:10.Banks -- hangs his stomach every opportunity, apprenticeships, the

:12:11. > :12:26.opportunity to learn why -- while you earn. 40% of all those gaining

:12:27. > :12:33.degrees in maths in Scotland, a female. Which you look to Scotland

:12:34. > :12:36.as an example? I spoke to the Cabinet Minister responsible for

:12:37. > :12:41.education in Scotland earlier this week. There are always ways that we

:12:42. > :12:44.can learn from each other, but I would also mention my own university

:12:45. > :12:48.that I represent, Loughborough, which has the highest number of

:12:49. > :12:56.women engineering undergraduates in the country. Recently visited a site

:12:57. > :12:59.in Crawley and witnessed high quality engineering jobs, but

:13:00. > :13:04.unfortunately not enough are held by women. Will the government listen to

:13:05. > :13:09.the recent findings of the CBI that over 90% and not getting the careers

:13:10. > :13:14.advice they need, and support face-to-face careers advice from the

:13:15. > :13:21.age of 11? I have been very clear since taking up this role that it is

:13:22. > :13:24.something we need to look at, so we announced in December are backing

:13:25. > :13:27.for the careers and enterprise company which is setup to bridge the

:13:28. > :13:33.gap between schools and colleges on the world of work. I agree that

:13:34. > :13:38.starting early as important, and I hope that he and all members have

:13:39. > :13:40.spoken to their local enterprise coordinator through the local

:13:41. > :13:50.enterprise partnership, and they are taking part in supporting their

:13:51. > :13:55.work. I would like to answer five, seven and 12 together. Clearly older

:13:56. > :13:59.women have a range of skills that are valuable to employers. We are

:14:00. > :14:05.publishing a new employer led strategy later this year which sets

:14:06. > :14:08.out how we can help people have full working lives, and will continue to

:14:09. > :14:15.challenge outdated perceptions about older workers and promote the

:14:16. > :14:19.business benefit of employing them. Does she agree that the key issue

:14:20. > :14:24.for older women in employment is flexibility as they can often face

:14:25. > :14:28.caring duties. Of all carers in this country, author half are aged over

:14:29. > :14:35.50, and are disproportionately female. I would agree, that is why

:14:36. > :14:40.we have invested ?1.7 million to look at the best way to support

:14:41. > :14:45.carers to stay in employment, including exploring how businesses

:14:46. > :14:57.can give employees more help, through flexible working, setting up

:14:58. > :15:02.surgeries, and we have ... Age discrimination remains a problem. I

:15:03. > :15:06.am delighted to hear the government is taking this seriously, but what

:15:07. > :15:13.steps can be taken to ensure that older women get the same

:15:14. > :15:17.opportunities they deserve? He is right, it is vital women are

:15:18. > :15:25.supported on returning to work, maybe following a break in their

:15:26. > :15:30.career. This is a fantastic example with Barclays, of innovative

:15:31. > :15:36.practices and a case study such as they are apprentice, Lucille

:15:37. > :15:41.Galloway, who spoke passionately about how return to the work ways

:15:42. > :15:50.has transformed her legs and those of the people around her. --

:15:51. > :15:56.transformed her life. Does she agree that there is a greater agree of

:15:57. > :16:00.discrimination in the workplace? And which you also agree that changes to

:16:01. > :16:05.the state pension age compound difficulties and that women face?

:16:06. > :16:13.She is right to point out we have made great strides in gender

:16:14. > :16:16.equality. In 2015 the average women who teaches pension age will get a

:16:17. > :16:24.higher state pension over her lifetime than any woman that reached

:16:25. > :16:29.it before her. We have launched a review to ensure that any future

:16:30. > :16:37.changes are fair, affordable, sustainable and that no one is

:16:38. > :16:46.penalised. Given that women are having children older in life, what

:16:47. > :16:50.sort has the Minister given to extending maternity leave to six

:16:51. > :16:56.weeks to enable women to get back to employment more quickly? We do want

:16:57. > :17:00.men to take the shared parental leave that is already available. The

:17:01. > :17:05.signs are that men are beginning to do that, but we need a cultural

:17:06. > :17:14.change, which encourages men to take their share. While it is perfectly

:17:15. > :17:22.right that someone in his late 70s is a regular presenter on BBC

:17:23. > :17:29.television, indeed he is younger than I am! Can the Minister imagine

:17:30. > :17:33.someone of that age, a female being in the same position, a regular

:17:34. > :17:41.presenter at the same age as a person I mentioned. Isn't that a

:17:42. > :17:47.form of age discrimination by a public body? I have to say I am very

:17:48. > :17:51.much in favour of older male television presenters, particularly

:17:52. > :17:58.of news programmes. LAUGHTER But absolutely we need to

:17:59. > :18:08.see many more female counterparts. It's vital that the civil service

:18:09. > :18:11.achieved parity. Since the Prime Minister is given to the power to

:18:12. > :18:15.choose the top jobs he is painstakingly reassembled the glass

:18:16. > :18:19.ceiling and our only 18% of permanent secretaries are women.

:18:20. > :18:22.Will the ministers commit to polishing the gender breakdown of

:18:23. > :18:29.all applicants are not those short listed for top jobs in the civil

:18:30. > :18:32.service? It is a really important issue. Four of the permanent

:18:33. > :18:36.secondary is appointed last year have been winning, we want to see

:18:37. > :18:44.more and that will continue. Question six. The UK is proud of its

:18:45. > :18:50.record on LGBT writes, that is why we hosted a reception at number ten

:18:51. > :18:54.with the common foreign wealth office announced money for human

:18:55. > :18:56.rights and democracy working for LGBT communities around the world,

:18:57. > :19:03.said other government departments are good in my own also flew the

:19:04. > :19:10.rainbow flag in a show of support. A lovely reception it was. This year,

:19:11. > :19:15.the international Day against homophobia, translated and by phobia

:19:16. > :19:17.drew everyone's attention to the importance of institutions to

:19:18. > :19:21.further LGBT right up to mark the day I joined members across the

:19:22. > :19:24.South and the other place to highlight the benefits of membership

:19:25. > :19:29.of the European Union to furthering LGBT writes. Does the Minister agree

:19:30. > :19:32.that the European Union has an awful lot to protect the rights of

:19:33. > :19:39.minority communities across the UK and EU? I agree with my friend. It

:19:40. > :19:44.was extremely good and enjoyable. I agree with him, the EU plays a key

:19:45. > :19:48.role in improving the lives of LGBT people in Britain, the EU and

:19:49. > :19:50.internationally. We work closely with the commission, council,

:19:51. > :19:55.Parliament and member states to improve the lives of LGBT people

:19:56. > :19:58.across Europe and from ownership of an EU national focal point network

:19:59. > :20:01.we can share our approach to improve the lives of LGBT people across

:20:02. > :20:03.Europe and from ownership of an EU national focal point network we can

:20:04. > :20:06.share our approach the LGBT a quality law across Europe. Further

:20:07. > :20:12.to what the Minister has just said, recent figures published by

:20:13. > :20:18.transgender Europe organisation, say there have been 170 murders of trams

:20:19. > :20:23.and gender diverse people in Europe since 2008 so will the Minister

:20:24. > :20:28.commit to working with our European partners to end trans phobia across

:20:29. > :20:34.our continent? She raises an important point. I think that's why

:20:35. > :20:38.our membership of international networks and the European Union is

:20:39. > :20:43.so important, we are able and I'm proud to say the UK can lead the way

:20:44. > :20:48.and tackling homophobia, by phobia, trans phobia. We are investing money

:20:49. > :20:54.in on schools to make sure the next generation are shown tolerance to

:20:55. > :21:02.everybody. Notwithstanding the benefits... Wouldn't my friend agree

:21:03. > :21:06.with me that one of the best ways of marking that international day is

:21:07. > :21:11.better forms of screening for diseases that affect LGBT people?

:21:12. > :21:17.One of which, of course, is the human papilloma virus. Can I thank

:21:18. > :21:20.my honourable friend. The differences aside and the question

:21:21. > :21:24.of the European Union, I'm delighted to say that the Minister for Public

:21:25. > :21:28.health as the day later ministerial statement on the house that from

:21:29. > :21:32.June Public Health England. The pilots to see if it's possible to

:21:33. > :21:36.offer the HPV vaccination to men who have sex with men, attending sexual

:21:37. > :21:45.health services. They will reach 40,000 men at high risk of having

:21:46. > :21:49.the virus. Transgender constituent of mine who is being held in custody

:21:50. > :21:52.is having a difficult time in a men's prison and the Minister will

:21:53. > :21:57.recall that two transgender women died in men's prisons back in last

:21:58. > :22:00.year. We're post a review. Can she tell others what discussions use had

:22:01. > :22:05.with the does Justice Secretary and how close we are to having an

:22:06. > :22:09.outcome? Can I thank the honourable gentleman and of course he was the

:22:10. > :22:14.rate a case with ministers we will be pleased to look at it but I can

:22:15. > :22:17.tell him that we are firmly committed to ensuring the needs of

:22:18. > :22:24.transgender prisoners are met, the MNJ has carried out a the review and

:22:25. > :22:27.it will be published shortly. The global focus of this year 's

:22:28. > :22:31.international day against homophobia, trans phobia and by

:22:32. > :22:35.phobia was mental health and well-being. Does the Minister share

:22:36. > :22:39.my concerns at the impact which local government cuts are having on

:22:40. > :22:45.LGBT mental health organisations in the UK? Will she take steps to

:22:46. > :22:50.protect LGBT mental health services? I would agree with the lady that

:22:51. > :22:53.mental health services for all people are incredibly important.

:22:54. > :22:59.It's an issue that has been raised with me by members of the trans

:23:00. > :23:03.community and more broadly. I don't think I can agree with her about the

:23:04. > :23:06.issue about the changes to local government financing being the cause

:23:07. > :23:09.of this, it's a broader issue about making sure that services are

:23:10. > :23:16.available to those as and when they most need them. Number eight. We're

:23:17. > :23:19.committed to supporting women in business and I'm delighted that

:23:20. > :23:25.Britain has been named the best place in Europe for female

:23:26. > :23:27.entrepreneurs. We've invested ?2.2 million in women broadband programme

:23:28. > :23:31.enabling them to take a vantage of technology to start or grow their

:23:32. > :23:35.business and we've also run 19 nationwide meat and mental sessions

:23:36. > :23:38.to provide help and support and encouragement for female

:23:39. > :23:44.entrepreneurs. I'm grateful for the cancer. Women in business fearless

:23:45. > :23:49.in promoting businesses likely -- grateful for the answer. Broadband

:23:50. > :23:54.speeds in Dorset slow. What can the Minister do to engage in the subject

:23:55. > :23:58.and ensure women in business in mid-Dorset have access to adequate

:23:59. > :24:03.broadband speeds? We are working hard to ensure that 95% of UK homes

:24:04. > :24:07.and businesses get access to superfast broadband and coverage in

:24:08. > :24:11.Dorset will continue to improve Jerry 2017 through a government and

:24:12. > :24:17.local enterprise partnership funded ultrafast programme which I'm hoping

:24:18. > :24:20.the Wimborne women in business will appreciate through the Dorset go

:24:21. > :24:24.digital women broadband programme we have supported almost 100 women in

:24:25. > :24:28.the past six months alone to take advantage of this and develop the

:24:29. > :24:32.digital skills they need to start or grow business. Does the Minister

:24:33. > :24:36.agree with me that if more women were at senior levels in business we

:24:37. > :24:40.might have fewer advertising campaigns such as that by Calvin

:24:41. > :24:45.Klein featuring over the sexualised images of young women including what

:24:46. > :24:49.are known as up skirt shots? Will she join me in urging Calvin Klein

:24:50. > :24:52.and other similar organisations not only to be more responsible in their

:24:53. > :24:56.advertising but perhaps donate some of the profits they are major

:24:57. > :25:02.charities you are solving rather than worsening the problems women

:25:03. > :25:08.face in society? She is right to point out this kind of irresponsible

:25:09. > :25:12.advertising. I've met with the advertising industry recently to

:25:13. > :25:18.discuss this and actually she's right also to say that we do need

:25:19. > :25:22.more women on boards, there are 26% of the women and FTSE 100 boards

:25:23. > :25:25.which is more than ever before and that is something we will continue

:25:26. > :25:33.to work at including boards and pipeline as well. Number ten. Then

:25:34. > :25:38.declare, revenge pawn is an up orange crime. The revenge pawn

:25:39. > :25:45.helpline has received 4000 calls related to 785 cases is 2015, sadly

:25:46. > :25:47.indicated clear need for the important practical and emotional

:25:48. > :25:54.support it provides. The helpline has removed 1000 illegal images

:25:55. > :25:57.online. That demand for the revenge pawn helpline reflects that there

:25:58. > :26:03.will more than 1000 police reports of online revenge pawn last year.

:26:04. > :26:06.Yet two thirds of those cases saw no action taken because of problems

:26:07. > :26:11.with evidence or victims withdrawing. When will the helpline

:26:12. > :26:16.and this new law be matched with police training and also the option

:26:17. > :26:19.of anonymity for victims? I think the chairman of the select committee

:26:20. > :26:25.raised an important issue, we criminalise a revenge pawn in early

:26:26. > :26:31.2015, last year there were 82 prosecutions and 84 cautions.

:26:32. > :26:35.Thousands of officers are trained in digital crime and it is used in the

:26:36. > :26:38.training programmes. We must ensure victims report the crime and I will

:26:39. > :26:42.raise it with my honourable friend the Home Secretary when I see her.

:26:43. > :26:49.Order, tropical questions. -- topical questions. I hope that all

:26:50. > :26:52.members will join me in welcoming the introduction of topical

:26:53. > :26:56.questions to women and equality is all. Along with the introduction of

:26:57. > :27:00.the women equality select committee and the cross coming from French

:27:01. > :27:07.presence here today we are standing a powerful message to the public

:27:08. > :27:12.about equality. I am delighted that at the recent ministers meeting in

:27:13. > :27:15.Japan I was able to persuade all ministers to recognise the need to

:27:16. > :27:18.address discrimination of the children might suffer include in

:27:19. > :27:23.because their sexual orientation or gender and that was captured in a

:27:24. > :27:29.communique. I'm delighted to be asking the first topical question in

:27:30. > :27:32.this area. Thank you. There is a group of victims of domestic

:27:33. > :27:35.violence who are not entitled to access to protection and that is

:27:36. > :27:39.those women whose immigration status is dependent on their partners, the

:27:40. > :27:45.perpetrator. In recent weeks I've raises issue to Westminster Hall

:27:46. > :27:48.debate, two government ministers agreed to make representations to

:27:49. > :27:53.the Home Secretary about that. Will the Minister the most relevant one,

:27:54. > :27:57.will add her voice calls to equality for all women in these circumstances

:27:58. > :28:02.crushing Mark I thank the lady. Can I threw her welcome the appointment

:28:03. > :28:06.of Angela Constance as the Minister with responsibility. I enjoyed

:28:07. > :28:10.working with her in education in the last judgment in Scotland. I will

:28:11. > :28:17.look at this issue and will meet the Home Secretary soon and add this to

:28:18. > :28:20.our agenda. And the recent visit to Crossrail, I was delighted to learn

:28:21. > :28:23.of the major contribution that women have made at every level to what is

:28:24. > :28:29.Europe's largest in the structure project. With both a just two and

:28:30. > :28:32.Crossrail two on the horizon, will the Minister outline what is being

:28:33. > :28:39.done to retain these women and the skills that are important these

:28:40. > :28:42.projects. With this government 's unprecedented investment in

:28:43. > :28:45.transport infrastructure, opportunities in construction for

:28:46. > :28:49.women will continue to grow. We must build and Crossrail 's excellent

:28:50. > :28:54.example. The industry already has great role models including a remit

:28:55. > :28:58.had who led the team that delivered the Channel Tunnel rail Link, the

:28:59. > :29:00.construction of St Pancras international and was a delivery

:29:01. > :29:06.director for cross well. I hope women will follow in her footsteps.

:29:07. > :29:10.The SNP are permitted to review and reform gender recognition and

:29:11. > :29:13.Scotland so it is in line with best practice for people who are

:29:14. > :29:16.transgender. Will the Minister join in applauding this approach and will

:29:17. > :29:21.she press for such legislative change here through her own

:29:22. > :29:25.department? As I made clear, discrimination on any grounds is

:29:26. > :29:29.something that is up orange and the government wants to see ended. We

:29:30. > :29:31.can see there is more discussion about issues facing the

:29:32. > :29:39.trans-community and I would pay tribute to the work of the women in

:29:40. > :29:42.and equality select committee. They made recommendations for government

:29:43. > :29:48.departments across Whitehall which we are looking at responding to due

:29:49. > :29:52.course. With the Minister join me in congratulating the R and a and their

:29:53. > :29:56.decision to bar near field from hosting the Open Championship in

:29:57. > :30:01.light of their decision to not admit women members? Does she think that

:30:02. > :30:13.the club should put this right and admit the man members? -- female

:30:14. > :30:18.members crushing Mark yes I do. What conversations as the Minister had

:30:19. > :30:22.with the Home Office about the equalities implications of the

:30:23. > :30:26.prevent strategy which terror watchdog David Anderson QC stated in

:30:27. > :30:31.his written submission to the home affairs select committee would

:30:32. > :30:35.benefit from an independent review, raising concerns that aspect of the

:30:36. > :30:42.programme are ineffective or being applied in an insensitive or

:30:43. > :30:45.discriminatory manner? I think that the honourable lady can see by the

:30:46. > :30:48.fact that there is Home Office representation at this questions

:30:49. > :30:53.that on the sessions are happening and I take note of the point she has

:30:54. > :30:57.made. By the aged six young girls have begun to decide which rolls are

:30:58. > :31:05.for them and which rolls are for boys. Often to the detriment of stem

:31:06. > :31:09.Khmers. Certain toys are marketed to girls and the majority of science

:31:10. > :31:13.toys marketed to boys. What plans have the government to show them on

:31:14. > :31:18.girls don't have to limit their career aspirations? I thank him for

:31:19. > :31:25.is question. Is passionate about this area. Ivorian said, the note --

:31:26. > :31:30.no career should be off-limits for anyone. Careers education in primary

:31:31. > :31:33.schools are important to broaden horizons, bring learning to live,

:31:34. > :31:37.I'd mention the careers of enterprise company before and I hope

:31:38. > :31:42.members of all sides in a house will support the local enterprise

:31:43. > :31:45.coordinators. Given the importance of the health department programme

:31:46. > :31:50.supporting disabled people who are unable to work or axis work, will

:31:51. > :31:54.she make representations to publish the Green paper urgently so that the

:31:55. > :32:01.disabled people don't have to wait longer to access support? The Green

:32:02. > :32:03.paper is a fantastic opportunity for stakeholders with their first-hand

:32:04. > :32:08.experience and knowledge to help shape that Italy whether a case of

:32:09. > :32:13.local best practice and scaling them up. Can the Minister in form the

:32:14. > :32:19.house what's that she's taken to increase the number of female

:32:20. > :32:23.headteachers? I thank for the question. The White Paper published

:32:24. > :32:27.in March about education reinforces our commitment to develop a diverse

:32:28. > :32:34.supply of school leaders, over 450 women are benefiting from our fund,

:32:35. > :32:39.recently I announced a fund for helping career progression and

:32:40. > :32:42.coaching. 300 have signed up to do so. Will the Minister support the

:32:43. > :32:56.introduction of X our support? This was raised by the select

:32:57. > :32:59.committee in the report, and evidence was taken on it. We are

:33:00. > :33:04.considering this along with the rest of the report. The Secretary of

:33:05. > :33:08.State referred to the select committee earlier. We have produced

:33:09. > :33:13.two reports in our short existence, one on the gender pay gap and one on

:33:14. > :33:17.transgender people. One of the reports is five months old and we

:33:18. > :33:28.have yet to receive a response to either of them. I'm delighted to see

:33:29. > :33:35.they have been busy. She mentions two reports. They make

:33:36. > :33:40.recommendations for cross government co-operation, and I want to make

:33:41. > :33:48.sure I get the best possible response, but I hope to print them

:33:49. > :33:49.shortly. I hope that shortly means before the summer recess. This is

:33:50. > :34:10.not satisfactory. Can the Minister explained by the

:34:11. > :34:18.government is reluctant to reveal this information? The detention of

:34:19. > :34:22.pregnant women under the immigration act powers occurs only in very

:34:23. > :34:26.limited situations. Either way there is a clear prospect of early removal

:34:27. > :34:30.or in very exceptional circumstances. Heady few pregnant

:34:31. > :34:35.women are detained. Recording the number of detained women who have

:34:36. > :34:45.disclosed the pregnancy started in August 2014. Options and wider data

:34:46. > :34:50.regarding pregnant women is under the act that has just gone to this

:34:51. > :34:55.House. I am sure she will be aware that 11 states in the United States

:34:56. > :35:00.have decided that it who uses a bathroom is the key issue concerning

:35:01. > :35:06.public safety. Which he reassured me that our government will not go down

:35:07. > :35:08.this path and focus on real priorities in terms of public

:35:09. > :35:16.safety, not the ones being imagined in the United States. I am more than

:35:17. > :35:19.happy to have a conversation with him about his concerns. It is not

:35:20. > :35:24.something that has been raised with me previously. Before I call the

:35:25. > :35:27.honourable gentleman for his urgent question. I would emphasise that

:35:28. > :35:34.this is an extremely important matter, and by definition urgent,

:35:35. > :35:38.but exchanges should be completed by 11 o'clock. There is a business

:35:39. > :35:42.question to follow, a ministerial statement updating the steel

:35:43. > :35:46.industry, and are very heavily subscribed main debate today. So the

:35:47. > :35:57.time limits will need to be strict late enforced. Mr Ian Blackford. --

:35:58. > :36:03.strictly. To ask the Secretary of State for the home Department if she

:36:04. > :36:04.will make a statement on the impending deportation of the family