Contributions
3,157 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsI congratulate my hon. Friend and that fantastic organisation on their work. In addition to congratulating them, both my Departments will provide support to make period poverty…20 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsIn both the work we do through the ILO and some new work we are doing to support trade unions in developing countries, that absolutely needs to be at the heart of the agenda. Of…20 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am sure the whole House will wish to join me in expressing our concern at the loss and devastation following the deadly cyclone in southern Africa. In Mozambique, Malawi and…20 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe cannot spend any of the 0.7% on military spending. That is the whole point of being in the DAC—Development Assistance Committee—club and committing to 0.7%. We are looking at…20 Mar 2019HANSARDBangladeshI thank my hon. Friend for visiting Bangladesh. It is incredibly helpful for us to get as many reports as possible about the difference that UK aid is making and about the…20 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the hon. Gentleman for raising that important point. Yes, we are looking at widening that support. Our NGOs, whether they are humanitarian or work in other areas, are…20 Mar 2019HANSARDBangladeshI did discuss those things, as my hon. Friend would expect, and we are sceptical about some of the Bangladeshi Government’s ideas. We watched presentations about the island and…20 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the hon. Lady for that incredibly important question. We have a particular strategy in DFID that is looking at placing the empowerment, especially the economic…20 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsNo. We do not want a second referendum, which would be disastrous. We are doing specific work in those sectors to close the gender pay gap. However, I caution that some companies…14 Mar 2019HANSARDPublic Spending: Disabled PeopleMembers will know the figures well. The amount currently spent on disabled people and those with health conditions is £50 billion. We are closing the disability employment gap,…14 Mar 2019HANSARDPublic Spending: Disabled PeopleThe Department for Work and Pensions has been continuing to do the work that was outlined in the health and work review 12 months or more ago and is making progress. The…14 Mar 2019HANSARDPeriod PovertyAbsolutely. This is an issue that can unite the whole House, and we need such issues, especially at times like this. When I launched this, I also paid tribute to many…14 Mar 2019HANSARDPeriod PovertyYes, we have. I am sure that all Members across the House will welcome the recent announcements on schools, hospitals and colleges, but we want to look at the issue in the round.…14 Mar 2019HANSARDPeriod PovertyI absolutely agree. The Government strongly believe that VAT should not apply to these products. That is why we took the initiative in 2016 to introduce legislation to enable a…14 Mar 2019HANSARDPeriod PovertyI absolutely agree. That is why we have also launched a new campaign to step up international action to end period poverty globally by 2030, in line with the global goals. This…14 Mar 2019HANSARDPeriod PovertyI am convening a new taskforce of experts from all sectors to ensure that we end period poverty in the UK. The taskforce will build on good work already being done and recent…14 Mar 2019HANSARDHighly Paid Professions: Girls and WomenThe Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is leading on a number of pieces of work. The women’s economic empowerment strategy is considering all these policies…14 Mar 2019HANSARDHighly Paid Professions: Girls and WomenEvery human endeavour depends for its success on women’s involvement, so, yes, I am pleased about progress, but more needs to be done.14 Mar 2019HANSARDHighly Paid Professions: Girls and WomenI thank the hon. Lady for raising this issue. It is a very serious matter indeed. I will certainly ask the relevant Minister at the Department for Education to meet her, and I…14 Mar 2019HANSARDHighly Paid Professions: Girls and WomenThe Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is consulting on that matter. My right hon. Friend mentioned a list of issues, and it is important to track the impact…14 Mar 2019