Contributions
1,454 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe right hon. Gentleman makes a fair point about the Disclosure and Barring Service.17 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. It was a disgrace that that was being used as a defence in criminal cases of murder. I pay tribute to Members from all parties who have run an…17 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe most vital tool in social mobility is education, which is why we are absolutely determined to get children back to school and to support children who are not in school through…17 Jun 2020HANSARDComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (Accession)I am not surprised that the right hon. Lady is trying to do down our efforts to secure trade agreements with the vast majority of the world and join some of the most exciting…17 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs we recover from the covid-19 pandemic, the Government will ensure that everyone has the opportunity to succeed, which is why the Prime Minister announced that we are setting up…17 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Gender Pay Gap ReportingWe are in a serious economic situation due to covid-19, and my priority, as the Minister for Women and Equalities, is to make sure that women stay in employment where possible and…17 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Gender Pay Gap ReportingTo ease the burdens on businesses due to coronavirus, we suspended enforcement of the gender pay gap reporting in March. Despite that, more than 5,500 companies have reported to…17 Jun 2020HANSARDComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (Accession)Japan is a very important partner of the UK, and we are separately negotiating our bilateral trade agreement, but when I spoke to Minister Motegi, who is responsible for…17 Jun 2020HANSARDComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (Accession)As we seek to recover from coronavirus, it is incredibly important that we protect and expand our exports, which represent 31% of the UK economy and include vital industries such…17 Jun 2020HANSARDComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (Accession)My hon. Friend makes an extremely important point. One benefit of CPTPP is that it is a free-trade, high-standards arrangement with countries that follow the rules. We want to…17 Jun 2020HANSARDComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (Accession)What we are announcing today is our intention to accede, and we are talking to all 11 partners of CPTPP to have those preparatory discussions. Our formal application to CPTPP will…17 Jun 2020HANSARDComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (Accession)First, I thank my right hon. Friend for all the work he did as International Trade Secretary in pursuing this ambitious agenda. It is great that I have the Under-Secretary of…17 Jun 2020HANSARDComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (Accession)I have been clear about my position on ISDS, but in the EU negotiations that are being conducted by our lead negotiator, David Frost, we are very clear we are not having a level…17 Jun 2020HANSARDConversion TherapyI am particularly concerned about under-18s being coerced into so-called conversion therapies, and that is one of the specific points that we will address when we launch our plans…17 Jun 2020HANSARDConversion TherapyConversion therapy is a vile, abhorrent practice that we want to stop. We have commissioned research to look at the scope of the practice in the UK, and we will publish our plans…17 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Female EntrepreneurshipMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right about the vital importance of childcare. We also need to ensure that the flexible working practices that have developed during this covid…17 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Female EntrepreneurshipI congratulate my hon. Friend on his work for the all-party group on women and enterprise. He is absolutely right: we need to make sure that, as part of our levelling-up agenda,…17 Jun 2020HANSARDComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (Accession)I have already said that I will not sign up to something that threatens our right to regulate here in the UK.17 Jun 2020HANSARDComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (Accession)We are the second largest malting barley exporter to Japan after Canada and we have fine products both in Scotland and in my own region of East Anglia. Getting access to that…17 Jun 2020HANSARDComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (Accession)That is a bit of a cheek coming from a party that wants to separate from our extremely successful Union here in the UK. We want a good trade deal with the EU, just as we want a…17 Jun 2020