0:00:00 > 0:00:00the last year leaving the customs union provides an opportunity to
0:00:00 > 0:00:04enhance this growth, particularly as manufacturing exports outside of the
0:00:04 > 0:00:10EU are growing so fast.Questions to the Minister for Women and
0:00:10 > 0:00:18Equalities.One, Mr Speaker.Thank you, Mr Speaker. With your
0:00:18 > 0:00:23permission, I would like to take questions one and two together. The
0:00:23 > 0:00:29centenary fund has paid out £2.5 million so far, £1.2 million was
0:00:29 > 0:00:36given to Bolton, Bristol, Leeds, Leicester, London, Nottingham. We
0:00:36 > 0:00:42are also funding the first-ever statue of a woman in Parliament
0:00:42 > 0:00:46Square, Millicent Fawcett.I thank the Minister for her answer, she
0:00:46 > 0:00:52will know, I am sure, that the Sheffield female political
0:00:52 > 0:00:57Association founded in 1851 was the first woman's suffrage organisation
0:00:57 > 0:01:02in the UK. Will she therefore join me in supporting the bid prepared by
0:01:02 > 0:01:06women across the voluntary arts and education sectors to the fund and
0:01:06 > 0:01:09will she wish them well in their ambition to use the centenary to
0:01:09 > 0:01:16encourage opportunities for women who feel disengaged and
0:01:16 > 0:01:21disempowered?I thank him for his question. I am delighted to
0:01:21 > 0:01:25congratulate him and to welcome the women of Sheffield in their bid to
0:01:25 > 0:01:29the centenary fund, I hope it will do exactly as he says, encourage
0:01:29 > 0:01:35more women to engage in political life in general.Will the Minister
0:01:35 > 0:01:39confirm what level of support the Government or contracted company is
0:01:39 > 0:01:46providing smaller women's groups to encourage them?Yes, I am happy to
0:01:46 > 0:01:53tell him that we have a website that will set it out. It is women's
0:01:53 > 0:02:00centenary fund, whether bidding process is set out, two types of
0:02:00 > 0:02:06grants available, larger ones up to £125,000, and smaller ones start at
0:02:06 > 0:02:09£2000, that will give him and his constituents the information they
0:02:09 > 0:02:13need to apply for the grants.Are we in danger of missing the point? The
0:02:13 > 0:02:18best way to celebrate the centenary of women's Suffrage is to get more
0:02:18 > 0:02:24women to register and vote when elections turn up?My honourable
0:02:24 > 0:02:29friend is right, it is absolutely imperative more women participate in
0:02:29 > 0:02:33political life, both in terms of voting and participate in this place
0:02:33 > 0:02:38here. But we can do both things, celebrate the centenary and in our
0:02:38 > 0:02:40celebrations, make that point repeatedly so we get more women
0:02:40 > 0:02:49involved.A recent study published... Apologies. Question
0:02:49 > 0:02:57number three. My apologies.Thank you. The UK Government's record on
0:02:57 > 0:03:01the qualities as one of the best in the world and leaving the EU will
0:03:01 > 0:03:07not change that. The Equality Acts and equivalent legislation in
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Northern Ireland provide a cornerstone and in some places go
0:03:10 > 0:03:15much further than EU requirements, for example, world leading approach
0:03:15 > 0:03:19to gender pay gap reporting. We do not need to be part of the EU to
0:03:19 > 0:03:28sustain our record in this area.A recent study has found the UK's
0:03:28 > 0:03:33voting record has historically placed business interests over
0:03:33 > 0:03:37women's rights. Post Brexit Britain, what steps is the Government taking
0:03:37 > 0:03:42to ensure that this business interests will not be placed above
0:03:42 > 0:03:47equality?The Government has a proud record of protecting and enhancing
0:03:47 > 0:03:51women's rights, predating the membership of the EU, for example,
0:03:51 > 0:03:57the Equal Pay Act of 1970. The index in the EU placing us six out of 28
0:03:57 > 0:04:06and the gender pay clap were -- the gender pay gap reporting policies go
0:04:06 > 0:04:12beyond the EU in many ways.Rather like an employment rights, the UK
0:04:12 > 0:04:16has been right at the forefront of advancing the quality across the
0:04:16 > 0:04:22world, will she confirm that simply is not going to change?Yes. We have
0:04:22 > 0:04:30a proud record, a proud history, proud tradition in the UK supporting
0:04:30 > 0:04:33workers, protect civil liberties and champions human rights, leaving the
0:04:33 > 0:04:36EU will in no way affect that historic tradition of which we can
0:04:36 > 0:04:47all be proud.Number four, Mr Speaker.The Equality Act 2010
0:04:47 > 0:04:54provides protection from harassment for employees. The coalition
0:04:54 > 0:04:58government repealed the third-party harassment provisions in section 40
0:04:58 > 0:05:02of the act because they were unnecessary and overcomplicated.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06Employers have a legal obligation to protect workers and they may be
0:05:06 > 0:05:09liable if they fail to take reasonable steps to prevent
0:05:09 > 0:05:15harassment of workers by third parties.I referred to my members
0:05:15 > 0:05:19interest, I am not on the menu in the hospitality sector, research
0:05:19 > 0:05:24with cabin crew is showing the majority experience sexual
0:05:24 > 0:05:28harassment, demonstrating why section 40 of the qualities that
0:05:28 > 0:05:352010 is vital. Will the Minister commit to end implement this and
0:05:35 > 0:05:40focus on a zero tolerance approach to any sexual harassment in the
0:05:40 > 0:05:43first place?I am most concerned and she should be reassured they are
0:05:43 > 0:05:48covered already by the Equality Act. The reason those provisions were
0:05:48 > 0:05:53repealed in section 40 was because they required not one but three
0:05:53 > 0:05:57occasions of harassment and we know that in the three years that the
0:05:57 > 0:06:05provisions were in place, they were used only once, so we having -- we
0:06:05 > 0:06:14have tried to improve the euro.It is encouraging to hear my honourable
0:06:14 > 0:06:18friend's response. -- tried to improve the law. We have to be
0:06:18 > 0:06:23encouraging, and am I reporting, with the workplace, and also make
0:06:23 > 0:06:27sure the unethical use of nondisclosure agreements are not all
0:06:27 > 0:06:33working to stop people bringing forward these claims of sexual
0:06:33 > 0:06:39harassment -- and on the most reporting.I thank her for her
0:06:39 > 0:06:44question and with her expertise, she knows too well the challenge we have
0:06:44 > 0:06:48in advertising the rights people have in the workplace and I am
0:06:48 > 0:06:50particularly concerned with nondisclosure agreements. We know
0:06:50 > 0:06:55they can be used for lawful reasons, to protect client confidentiality,
0:06:55 > 0:07:00but they cannot be used to shield employees from claims of harassment
0:07:00 > 0:07:04or discrimination and any work her committee can do to help the
0:07:04 > 0:07:09Government in advertising that, I would very much welcome.I know from
0:07:09 > 0:07:13my many battles in the coalition government, some successful, some
0:07:13 > 0:07:17not, that the Conservatives of session with deregulation often gets
0:07:17 > 0:07:22in the way of protecting vulnerable workers and teachers that obsession
0:07:22 > 0:07:26that is the real reason those provisions in the Equality Act were
0:07:26 > 0:07:31repealed, I was in the discussions at the time -- the Conservatives'
0:07:31 > 0:07:37obsession with deregulation. It is time to look again at the issue and
0:07:37 > 0:07:42by all means, improve on the provisions there originally, as
0:07:42 > 0:07:47suggested.I very much paid tribute to the honourable lady for the work
0:07:47 > 0:07:52she has done as a minister and that she continues to do in the House. We
0:07:52 > 0:07:56will keep this under review of course. The point I made about the
0:07:56 > 0:08:00section 40 amendments was because the general protection exists under
0:08:00 > 0:08:04the act but we will continue to look at the evidence and we are very
0:08:04 > 0:08:08clear, discrimination in the workplace, harassment, it is simply
0:08:08 > 0:08:17not on and it is against the law.We have to be very clear about this
0:08:17 > 0:08:20because the Government repealed section 40 of the Equality Act 2010,
0:08:20 > 0:08:26there is no statutory protection of the third-party harassment, so if
0:08:26 > 0:08:30the Government is committed to protecting women and girls, will
0:08:30 > 0:08:35they show this by either reinstating section 40 or at the very least
0:08:35 > 0:08:39introducing stronger legislation to ensure protection against
0:08:39 > 0:08:45third-party harassment?I hesitate to correct the honourable lady, but
0:08:45 > 0:08:49it is simply not true, there is a general protection against
0:08:49 > 0:08:54harassment in the workplace, it is in the statute, the 2010 statute,
0:08:54 > 0:08:58general protection. If there are any instances members across the House
0:08:58 > 0:09:03have of particular types of harassment or discrimination, I and
0:09:03 > 0:09:06the Home Secretary will be always willing to listen, but the Equality
0:09:06 > 0:09:15Act protection workers, and it does not require three occasions of
0:09:15 > 0:09:21harassment, it requires just one. Number five, please, Mr Speaker.
0:09:21 > 0:09:30Thank you. No girl or woman should be held back because of her gender
0:09:30 > 0:09:35or background. This is why the department forger Digital Culture,
0:09:35 > 0:09:40Media and Sport has identified period poverty as a priority for the
0:09:40 > 0:09:46tampon tax fund which in 2018 and 2019 totals £15 million and we have
0:09:46 > 0:09:53encouraged its to address this issue.In Stockton South and across
0:09:53 > 0:09:59Teesside, residents led the free period campaign and persuaded local
0:09:59 > 0:10:02authorities to provide free sanitary protection for women and girls
0:10:02 > 0:10:06living in poverty. Which you meet with me to work out how it would be
0:10:06 > 0:10:11replicated in other parts of the country?I am delighted to hear the
0:10:11 > 0:10:14council have started this innovative project and in fairness to the
0:10:14 > 0:10:18Scottish colleagues, the same is happening in Aberdeen as well. I
0:10:18 > 0:10:22look forward very much to hearing the results of this pilot and I
0:10:22 > 0:10:29would be happy to meet the honourable gentleman to discuss it.
0:10:29 > 0:10:36I was pleased to hear the student union in Lincoln sales sanitary
0:10:36 > 0:10:41products at Costa before VAT, will the Minister acknowledge this is a
0:10:41 > 0:10:44necessity and will she accelerate the timetable for removing the
0:10:44 > 0:10:51tampon tax? Yes or no?I'm very glad our current university is leading
0:10:51 > 0:10:57the way on this but she knows we are constrained by our membership of the
0:10:57 > 0:11:02European Union, she shakes her head but I'm afraid that's the law. What
0:11:02 > 0:11:05we have done is lowered the race to the lowest possible level, 5% and
0:11:05 > 0:11:13what is more, we are using that money specifically for women and
0:11:13 > 0:11:17girls, funds to help them and the moment we leave the European Union,
0:11:17 > 0:11:26I know my Treasury colleagues are looking exactly at the issue.Mr
0:11:26 > 0:11:30Speaker, it's a stain on our society young girls and women are
0:11:30 > 0:11:34experiencing period poverty and its tragic are government appear to have
0:11:34 > 0:11:39an ambivalence to it, although I welcome the latest announcement.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42Will the Minister agree to work with me in an innovative scheme I am
0:11:42 > 0:11:47running with a local supermarket currently in its infancy to see how
0:11:47 > 0:11:53we can work towards the elimination of period poverty?I'd be delighted
0:11:53 > 0:12:00to meet a tizzy discussed it, because it is portents -- meet her
0:12:00 > 0:12:06to discuss it. We are trying to gather the evidence on it,
0:12:06 > 0:12:12particularly with schools. On the issue of the VAT charged on tampons
0:12:12 > 0:12:17and other sanitary products, it is something we want to address and the
0:12:17 > 0:12:22moment we leave the EU, we can do so. In the meantime, we are using
0:12:22 > 0:12:28the money raised by the lower VAT rates to help women and girls,
0:12:28 > 0:12:31particularly firms dealing with the violence against women and girls. We
0:12:31 > 0:12:37have a general programme, 12 sub themes including period poverty and
0:12:37 > 0:12:42I hope the money will be of good use.Last week, the Minister asked
0:12:42 > 0:12:47us to remember the suffragettes change to the grills. I ask the
0:12:47 > 0:12:51Minister today to remember the women change to the House because of
0:12:51 > 0:12:55period poverty or those changed to poor housing because of universal
0:12:55 > 0:13:02credits or to a abusive partner because of the closure of refugees,
0:13:02 > 0:13:10will she help tackle those issues? This government, led I'm I say --
0:13:10 > 0:13:16led by a female Prime Minister, something the opposition have never
0:13:16 > 0:13:21entrusted their leadership to, this government is proud of helping women
0:13:21 > 0:13:24and precisely why we are bringing a ground-breaking use of legislation
0:13:24 > 0:13:28forward this year to tackle domestic abuse and help their victims and the
0:13:28 > 0:13:33children of those victims. It is one of a long programmer to try to help
0:13:33 > 0:13:39women who are not just victims of crime but also in the economy, more
0:13:39 > 0:13:43women in the workplace than ever before and we all know financial
0:13:43 > 0:13:47independence is a key indicator when it comes to ensuring women are not
0:13:47 > 0:13:51stuck in the terrible relationships she has described.Question number
0:13:51 > 0:13:57six, Mr Speaker.I do like to groove this question with question seven,
0:13:57 > 0:14:04eights, 13 and 15. More than 7500 employees have registered their
0:14:04 > 0:14:09intention to report and more than 1000 have published their data, the
0:14:09 > 0:14:14most recent data publicly available on the government website. There is
0:14:14 > 0:14:21still over a month until the public and private sector deadlines and we
0:14:21 > 0:14:25expect reporting to increase it never can sleep.One challenge that
0:14:25 > 0:14:30we face is employed as sometimes deliberately conflate their pay with
0:14:30 > 0:14:35equal pay to avoid scrutiny of their conduct -- fair play. A prime
0:14:35 > 0:14:42offender is the BBC, 70 MPs wrote to the Secretary of State for culture
0:14:42 > 0:14:50to use their power for men and women to be heard on this subject. Will
0:14:50 > 0:14:54she exercise her freedom of speech and have a word?I thank the Lady
0:14:54 > 0:14:58for raising this matter and it has been instructive to see how the BBC
0:14:58 > 0:15:06has responded to this. I'm happy to confirm I will take forward her and
0:15:06 > 0:15:12advice and have a word.Will the Minister confirm what sanctions will
0:15:12 > 0:15:16be put in place for those companies who do not meet their obligations to
0:15:16 > 0:15:22publish the gender pay data by the deadline?An important question from
0:15:22 > 0:15:27him, we've put the legislation in place, its ground-breaking, to
0:15:27 > 0:15:32ensure we close the gender pay gap. See HRC will be overseeing any sort
0:15:32 > 0:15:39of sanctions that are necessary. I hope it will be intention to use
0:15:39 > 0:15:42persuasion and demonstration of the law to get participation but they
0:15:42 > 0:15:48can use the full force if they find it's not being complied with.What
0:15:48 > 0:15:52measures are government undertaking to work with private sector
0:15:52 > 0:15:56business, civil society and others to close the gender pay gap?
0:15:56 > 0:16:00Incredibly important we address closing it and I think the
0:16:00 > 0:16:05transparency is one of the key ways we achieve that. Having this
0:16:05 > 0:16:08compulsion on reporting on the gender pay is an important first
0:16:08 > 0:16:12step but we will take it further, engaging with businesses to see what
0:16:12 > 0:16:17measures they will put in place to address the gender pay gap. When I
0:16:17 > 0:16:21talk to businesses about this, when they realise they have such a pay
0:16:21 > 0:16:26gap, to some is a revelation, they are moving to put in training and
0:16:26 > 0:16:31other measures to address it.Only three universities have so far
0:16:31 > 0:16:35reported on this and on a day when academics are bravely standing up to
0:16:35 > 0:16:39defend their pensions, Canada Minister tell us when she expects
0:16:39 > 0:16:44the pay gap will be eliminated in our universities? -- can our
0:16:44 > 0:16:49Minister.I urge them to address reporting the pay gap, it is the
0:16:49 > 0:16:56law. A word on another matter, it is important this dispute between
0:16:56 > 0:16:59students are effectively, the universities and their staff is
0:16:59 > 0:17:04resolved because people need to get their degrees and I would urge them
0:17:04 > 0:17:13to get back to work.Only 1000 out of 9000 companies obliged to publish
0:17:13 > 0:17:17data about the pay gap so far have done so, what will the Minister do
0:17:17 > 0:17:20to ensure they meet their obligations so we get the full
0:17:20 > 0:17:26picture?It's a vital data and we are proud of it because it has been
0:17:26 > 0:17:30introduced by a conservative government. We will contact private
0:17:30 > 0:17:34and public sector companies to make sure they report but it's an
0:17:34 > 0:17:38important first step, only 1000 so far, I would urge the Gentleman not
0:17:38 > 0:17:45to make perfect the enemy of the good.When the Minister has a word
0:17:45 > 0:17:48with the BBC, will it be her contention that it's the men that
0:17:48 > 0:17:54are overpaid or at the women that are underpaid?That is almost a
0:17:54 > 0:17:59philosophical question from the Right Honourable Gentleman. My
0:17:59 > 0:18:03priority is equality, the point I will be making.I've always thought
0:18:03 > 0:18:12of the member for Shipley as a philosopher. Of some distinction!
0:18:12 > 0:18:21Alan Mak.Question number nine.I am proud to be part of the most diverse
0:18:21 > 0:18:27Parliament in history and my honourable friend who asks this
0:18:27 > 0:18:30question is making his own contribution by being the first
0:18:30 > 0:18:35British Chinese member of Parliament, for which I welcome him.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39We are commissioning evidence to identify strategies to overcome
0:18:39 > 0:18:43barriers to participation and for our centenary fund, we support
0:18:43 > 0:18:46projects to get all women involved in all levels of government and
0:18:46 > 0:18:51ultimately stand for elected office. I thank her for her answer and kind
0:18:51 > 0:18:55words, 12 women Conservative councillors currently serve on my
0:18:55 > 0:18:59council giving over 100 years of collective service. Will she
0:18:59 > 0:19:03continue to support women elected into office at local government
0:19:03 > 0:19:08level and congratulate my friends locally for their service?Such a
0:19:08 > 0:19:11good question, it is important we also encourage women to participate
0:19:11 > 0:19:17more in local councils. Only 32% of local councillors are women, I'd
0:19:17 > 0:19:21like to see the numbers arise. I would like to share thanks and paid
0:19:21 > 0:19:26tribute to councillor Gwen Blackett, soon to retire from haven't council
0:19:26 > 0:19:31following 45 years of service and I would like to congratulate her and
0:19:31 > 0:19:37other who has served as well.The first woman to be elected to this
0:19:37 > 0:19:42Parliament was of course counters Markowitz, an Irish nationalists. Is
0:19:42 > 0:19:45the Home Secretary looking forward to a presentation of the portrait of
0:19:45 > 0:19:51the Countess next week by the Irish Speaker to this Parliament?Well,
0:19:51 > 0:19:55yes, I am looking forward to that event and make sure it's in my diary
0:19:55 > 0:20:02so I can join the Lady for the event.Splendid! Order, topical
0:20:02 > 0:20:06questions, I look forward to the presence of the Minister for Women
0:20:06 > 0:20:10and Equalities, that will confer some additional glitter on our
0:20:10 > 0:20:19proceedings. Anna McMorrin.Question number one.I'd like to update the
0:20:19 > 0:20:23House on the work we're doing to support people back into paid work
0:20:23 > 0:20:28after time spent with carers. Of which are 90% of course are women.
0:20:28 > 0:20:33We know too often people with skills and experience struggled to get back
0:20:33 > 0:20:38into jobs after taking time out of the labour market to care for
0:20:38 > 0:20:43children and family members which is a huge loss for the economy. Which
0:20:43 > 0:20:46is why we've committed £5 million to support people back into work in
0:20:46 > 0:20:51last year 's spring Budget. We announced a new measures for
0:20:51 > 0:20:54returners and I'm pleased to inform the House programmes for people
0:20:54 > 0:20:59wanting to return to jobs in social work and health professions and a
0:20:59 > 0:21:02programme for those wanting to join the civil service after the break up
0:21:02 > 0:21:07and running. Next month, we will launch practical guidance to help
0:21:07 > 0:21:12private sector employees to get back to the right skill level. I will
0:21:12 > 0:21:16continue to expand opportunities for those who want to return to
0:21:16 > 0:21:20employment and will continue to give updates.Tomorrow in my constituency
0:21:20 > 0:21:26of Cardiff North, I am hosting a pensions inequalities meeting for
0:21:26 > 0:21:31those born in the 1950s. When will the government support these women
0:21:31 > 0:21:34all over the country shamelessly exploited and robbed of their
0:21:34 > 0:21:43pensions?This was legislation passed in 1995 to create an equality
0:21:43 > 0:21:49between men and women. Those who seek to change the legislation would
0:21:49 > 0:21:52be effectively creating an inequality between men and women on
0:21:52 > 0:21:57an ongoing basis that has a dubious nature in law and an inequality
0:21:57 > 0:22:04between 1950s born women and 1960s born women.In this important
0:22:04 > 0:22:08centenary year, what steps is the government is taking to tackle the
0:22:08 > 0:22:14online abuse of women in public life?Well, I thank her for that
0:22:14 > 0:22:18question. It is so important to protect women particularly who get
0:22:18 > 0:22:23the largest share of abuse from other type of attacks that can put
0:22:23 > 0:22:28them off participating in public life. That's why the Prime Minister
0:22:28 > 0:22:31announced a review that the Law Commission will be doing to ensure
0:22:31 > 0:22:39what we say, that what is illegal off-line is illegal off-line, is
0:22:39 > 0:22:47actually the case and the law is following that guidance.Mr Speaker,
0:22:47 > 0:22:51I welcome the draft domestic violence and abuse Bill and are
0:22:51 > 0:22:55looking at new initiatives, I hope it considers the impact of
0:22:55 > 0:23:01government policy domestic violence. Therefore I ask Will the Secretary
0:23:01 > 0:23:06of State that the commitment will include the abolition of the 4% tax
0:23:06 > 0:23:09on survivors of domestic violence and ensure it's included in this
0:23:09 > 0:23:14draft a Bill.I'm grateful for her question, I will refer to colleagues
0:23:14 > 0:23:19who are doing the specific matters in relation to child maintenance and
0:23:19 > 0:23:22make sure we write to her with the specific response on that point
0:23:22 > 0:23:30within a week.89% of those who take time out of work to fulfil caring
0:23:30 > 0:23:36responsibilities are women and employers have a huge role to play
0:23:36 > 0:23:40in helping women to return to work when they wish to. And she set out
0:23:40 > 0:23:48plans to publish guidance for private sector employers?I agree
0:23:48 > 0:23:52this is a priority, for individuals and employers, families and the
0:23:52 > 0:23:57economy, which is why we have allocated £5 million in the last
0:23:57 > 0:24:02spring Budget to make sure we set up programmes for training, guidance
0:24:02 > 0:24:04and supporting businesses and employers and achieving exactly
0:24:04 > 0:24:13that. I will have further announcements on this.The
0:24:13 > 0:24:14Department for Education are currently reviewing relationship and
0:24:14 > 0:24:20excellent education. I wonder, has the Minister taken an opportunity to
0:24:20 > 0:24:28discuss with education colleagues, to emphasise how important it is to
0:24:28 > 0:24:31identify FGM and child early forced marriage as I priority area in the
0:24:31 > 0:24:35curriculum going forward.I'm incredibly proud of this government
0:24:35 > 0:24:40has made that commitment and we are going to be consulting on its to
0:24:40 > 0:24:45ensure we get it right. It's important to distinguish between
0:24:45 > 0:24:49relationship education which will be compulsory in primary schools and
0:24:49 > 0:24:53sex education in secondary schools, but the early as the Lady highlights
0:24:53 > 0:24:58of course will be considered as part of it. But this government has done
0:24:58 > 0:25:02a lot to address the scourge and unpleasantness and horror of forced
0:25:02 > 0:25:08marriage and FGM.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12Could administer update the House on for the government is doing to
0:25:12 > 0:25:21improve female eligibility for auto enrolment?In 2012, overall
0:25:21 > 0:25:24participation of female employees in workplace pension was 58%, but this
0:25:24 > 0:25:32has now increased to 80%, above men. In her constituency, there are 1020
0:25:32 > 0:25:38employers who have enrolled 6000 employees into an auto enrolled
0:25:38 > 0:25:41pension, including a large proportion of women. I will update
0:25:41 > 0:25:49the House regarding all constituencies shortly.What steps
0:25:49 > 0:25:53of the government taking to ensure that in job interviews women are not
0:25:53 > 0:25:58asked about their family plans or their childcare arrangements?I
0:25:58 > 0:26:03think I can honestly say that I was as shocked as she not out was to see
0:26:03 > 0:26:08about that and I will be discussing it with the HRC and finding out what
0:26:08 > 0:26:10further communication is needed to employers to ensure that doesn't
0:26:10 > 0:26:19take place, because it is clearly not allowed.Businesses have got
0:26:19 > 0:26:29just two weeks to file their gender pay gap reports. It's clear
0:26:29 > 0:26:31some excellent investigative journalism from the Financial Times
0:26:31 > 0:26:35that some businesses have filed incorrect data. Is done
0:26:35 > 0:26:40deliberately, what will my right honourable friend do?I thank my
0:26:40 > 0:26:44honourable friend for raising the issue. It is important to get right
0:26:44 > 0:26:51the gender pay gap reporting. It is a vital tool for ensuring we close
0:26:51 > 0:27:05the gap. I will be turning to the appropriate group to ensure this is
0:27:05 > 0:27:08properly handled.With reference to the BBC and the gender pay gap, I
0:27:08 > 0:27:10have also been looking at the diversity of background of the
0:27:10 > 0:27:20senior management of the organisation, but unfortunately they
0:27:20 > 0:27:24are not playing ball.With the Secretary of State have a word with
0:27:24 > 0:27:27them? Looks like I'm going to have a few things to take forward with them
0:27:27 > 0:27:30and I look forward to coming back and setting out what those
0:27:30 > 0:27:35conversations have revealed. Following the consultation that
0:27:35 > 0:27:39ended last September, when will my honourable friend bring forward
0:27:39 > 0:27:43proposals to remove costs as a protected characteristic from the
0:27:43 > 0:27:49equality act 2010?I thank him for his question. He has done so much
0:27:49 > 0:27:54work on this issue. We are clear that discrimination on the basis of
0:27:54 > 0:28:04caste is not acceptable. We are considering the results of a
0:28:04 > 0:28:09consultation from last year as we speak. The government will be
0:28:09 > 0:28:16responding shortly.Can I ask what discussions the government has had
0:28:16 > 0:28:25with minority women's groups?I have had a number of conversations with
0:28:25 > 0:28:30minority women's groups. When I go out to discuss issues to do with
0:28:30 > 0:28:33integration, I always make a special point of engaging with women's
0:28:33 > 0:28:37groups and finding out what we can do to help them. Often there are
0:28:37 > 0:28:41concerns at the sort of concerns he and I might have about our own
0:28:41 > 0:28:46families, access to jobs, access to language courses, access to general
0:28:46 > 0:28:51public services. The Communities Secretary will shortly bring forward
0:28:51 > 0:28:55an immigration strategy which I think will address some of those
0:28:55 > 0:29:09concerns.Regarding social media companies, can I urge her to don her
0:29:09 > 0:29:12ministerial hat and look at what companies can do proactively to
0:29:12 > 0:29:18ensure women are not put off going into public life?He is right. The
0:29:18 > 0:29:30issue of abuse of women online puts people off. I recently visited the
0:29:30 > 0:29:36West Coast to discuss high levels of crime online with internet companies
0:29:36 > 0:29:40and that was productive. We've got them to agree to a number of
0:29:40 > 0:29:47additional measures.Will the Minister consider criminalising
0:29:47 > 0:29:54upskirting, to end this degrading and humiliating premise?Upskirting
0:29:54 > 0:30:01is a modern phenomenon which the law has not quite kept up with modern
0:30:01 > 0:30:09habits. It is an issue of which I'm much aware. My Police and Crime
0:30:09 > 0:30:14Commissioner campaigns on this thoroughly. The government is
0:30:14 > 0:30:17considering this. Perhaps I could meet with the honourable lady to
0:30:17 > 0:30:23discuss this with her?What ongoing work is the government doing to
0:30:23 > 0:30:29tackle domestic violence?At I can reassure my honourable friend that
0:30:29 > 0:30:32we take domestic violence very seriously and we will shortly bring
0:30:32 > 0:30:37forward a consultation ahead of a new domestic violence Bill, which we
0:30:37 > 0:30:43will bring forward, which will address this heinous crime and I
0:30:43 > 0:30:47believe start to reduce the amount of domestic violence we are seeing
0:30:47 > 0:30:52in this country.There is strong anecdotal evidence to suggest that
0:30:52 > 0:30:59women are missing days at school due to period poverty. May I ask what
0:30:59 > 0:31:04has been, Saint, what research are you looking at and when will it be
0:31:04 > 0:31:17published to the House?Last summer, we asked for help from the
0:31:17 > 0:31:21Association of School and College leaders Forum and the received a
0:31:21 > 0:31:26limited response. We're trying to produce an analysis of our absence
0:31:26 > 0:31:31data, to look for evidence of period poverty and we will publish the
0:31:31 > 0:31:36findings of that due course.Further to the Minister's earlier answer, if
0:31:36 > 0:31:42the state pension ages of men and women were to be different, with
0:31:42 > 0:31:50that infringe equality legislation? Potentially yes.Will the Minister
0:31:50 > 0:31:56explained what plans the government will put in place to protect the 200
0:31:56 > 0:32:07women and children who are turned away from refugees every single day?
0:32:07 > 0:32:21-- refuges.We take very seriously the issue of refuge. Sometimes what
0:32:21 > 0:32:26happens is when a woman applies for one refuge, doesn't get accepted at
0:32:26 > 0:32:30that one, she goes on to the second or third and that counts as one
0:32:30 > 0:32:32being turned away. Are they share his