Planned closure of Sedbergh's Royal Mail delivery office
The petition of residents of the constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale,
Declares that Royal Mail have announced they are proposing to close Sedbergh Delivery Office and this move will risk making Sedbergh Post Office unsustainable and therefore risk closing the outreach Post Offices at Dent, Barbon and Endmoor.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge Royal Mail to stop their plans to close Sedbergh Delivery Office.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Tim Farron , Official Report, 09 November 2022; Vol. 722, c. 371 .]
[P002781]
Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Kevin Hollinrake):
The Government recognise the important role that the postal service plays in providing key services to local communities across the country.
However, as a private business, the location of sorting offices is an operational matter for Royal Mail. The Government do not have a role in Royal Mail’s organisational or operational decisions.
Concerns about Royal Mail’s operational decisions should be raised directly with the company as Royal Mail’s management is best placed to respond.
Home Department
International day for the elimination of violence against women
The petition of the residents of the United Kingdom
Declares that the international day for the elimination of violence against women and girls takes place on the 25 of November, further declares that 16 days of activism will follow, ending on 10 December, Human Rights Day – indicating that violence against women is the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide; (notes the United Nations objectives to call for global action to increase awareness, galvanise advocacy efforts and share knowledge and innovations to end violence against women and girls once and for all); and further notes that for 2022 the theme is ‘Unite – activism to end violence against women and girls’, which encourages us all to become activists for the prevention of violence against women and to stand in solidarity with women’s rights activists.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons observe and commemorate the international day for the elimination of violence against women and girls.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by David Linden , Official Report, 28 November 2022; Vol. 723, c. 750 .]
[P002784]
Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Miss Sarah Dines):
Transport
Save the Twenty-One bus route
20 of 40 shown
Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a Government priority. VAWG is unacceptable and preventable. The Government also recognise the work Parliament is undertaking to tackle violence against women and girls and this remains of paramount importance.
There was a programme of cross-governmental activity to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, and the 16 days of activism that followed. This included Ministers across Government conducting visits, attending events, making speeches and debating these important issues in Parliament.
The Home Secretary visited Refuge—a charity providing specialist services to victims and survivors of domestic abuse. Here she saw first-hand the importance of the National Domestic Violence Helpline the Government help to fund, which offers support and advice to victims and survivors of domestic abuse. The Deputy Prime Minister launched the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse support line. The Safeguarding Minister visited Hampshire Police, learning about work that the force is doing to intervene with perpetrators of domestic abuse. Alongside this, there was a programme of social media activity on Government channels raising awareness of the 16 days and the Government’s commitment to taking action on VAWG, including showcasing case studies from domestic abuse victims and highlighting key schemes to help tackle abuse like ‘Ask for AN I’.