Contributions
1,912 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDraft Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022Thank you, Mr Efford; I think that is right. However, the hon. Member for Bootle made a point about Tory-controlled councils, so I think I can make a point about Labour-controlled…23 Feb 2022HANSARDDraft Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022No, because I can tell that the hon. Gentleman wants to have a debate about local government finance. This is a structural change order. He did not speak in the local government…23 Feb 2022HANSARDSocial MobilitySocial background is not a protected characteristic in the Equality Act 2010, but the civil service did begin implementing socio-economic background measures for its workforce in…23 Feb 2022HANSARDDraft Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022Thank you, Mr Efford. I shall now stick with Somerset. Opposition Members have raised multiple questions, but first I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Yeovil for adding quite a…23 Feb 2022HANSARDWomen in the WorkplaceThe Government take the issue very seriously; I know that my colleagues in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy are working very hard on it. I expect that…23 Feb 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe appointment of Katharine Birbalsingh as chair of the Social Mobility Commission has been a welcome boost to the agenda. I would like to inform the House that she has begun the…23 Feb 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am reassured by one of my colleagues that that is not the case. Individual circumstances are taken into account. I am sure that if the hon. Lady writes to us, we shall be able…23 Feb 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe Government value the vital role that kinship carers play. Eligible kinship carers who adopt are entitled to adoption leave and pay, and employed kinship carers may also be…23 Feb 2022HANSARDDraft Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022I have been very encouraged by our spirited debate on this statutory instrument. Yesterday we managed to complete our discussion in 15 minutes; this has been a genuine debate. I…23 Feb 2022HANSARDSocial MobilityThe Government believe the circumstances of one’s birth should not determine life outcomes. As part of our plan to increase opportunity, we recently published the levelling-up…23 Feb 2022HANSARDSocial MobilityI thank the right hon. Lady for her question. The Department for Education will have done an equalities impact assessment on any new policies that it will announce. Those will be…23 Feb 2022HANSARDSocial MobilityI am delighted that my hon. Friend’s constituency will benefit from the Government’s education investment areas and will invest in areas where educational attainment is weakest.…23 Feb 2022HANSARDDraft Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022. The draft order was laid before the House on 24 January 2022. If approved and…23 Feb 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am afraid it is not the case that nothing has been done. I have been working very closely with Ministers across Departments, looking at the very issues the hon. Lady has raised.…23 Feb 2022HANSARDWomen in the WorkplaceI thank my hon. Friend for that really important question. I have to say that I have been shocked by the really disgusting remarks that have been levelled at the chair of the…23 Feb 2022HANSARDDraft North Yorkshire (Structural Changes) Order 2022I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft North Yorkshire (Structural Changes) Order 2022. The order was laid before the House on 24 January 2022. If approved and…21 Feb 2022HANSARDDraft North Yorkshire (Structural Changes) Order 2022I am not sure that I understand the hon. Gentleman’s question. I had assumed that he was asking how we will ensure that councils that are different, such as Scarborough, are not…21 Feb 2022HANSARDDraft North Yorkshire (Structural Changes) Order 2022I thank the hon. Gentleman for supporting the proposals and for asking several questions. I should be able to answer them and, if not, I will provide additional detail in our…21 Feb 2022HANSARDStandards in Public Life: Local AuthoritiesI am not sure whether that is a question specifically on the Committee on Standards in Public Life. The hon. Gentleman will know that the provisional local government settlement…24 Jan 2022HANSARDStandards in Public Life: Local AuthoritiesYes.24 Jan 2022