International Women’s Day
Baroness Smith of Llanfaes Excerpts(3 weeks ago)
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Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (PC)
My Lords, it is an absolute privilege to take part in this debate to mark International Women’s Day. I congratulate all those who gave their maiden speech today. In particular, I look forward to working with the noble Baroness, Lady Alexander, and the noble Lord, Lord Jones of Penybont, to further devolution. Llongyfarchiadau, a dwi’n edrych ymlaen i gydweithio—I look forward to working with you both.
As a Welsh woman, I feel compelled to begin by reflecting on a key historical contribution of Welsh women internationally. Five years after the First World War, a group of courageous women in Wales embarked on a campaign for peace that would become a symbol of hope and unity. The Welsh women’s peace petition, which began its journey in 1923, was the brainchild of a group of determined women. This petition spanned seven miles in length. It was signed by 390,296 Welsh women and carried across the Atlantic to the United States in an oak chest by four remarkable women: Annie Hughes-Griffiths, Mary Ellis, Elined Prys and Gladys Thomas. Among those signatories was my great-great-grandmother, who was from Neath Port Talbot. It is remarkable to think that, in 2023, 100 years after it was first signed, this petition returned to Wales and was digitised for the world to see at the National Library of Wales. I look forward to visiting an upcoming exhibition about the petition at Storiel in Bangor.
This campaign and the women who initiated it highlighted the long history of Welsh women engaging in global causes. It is fitting, therefore, that we reflect on their example as we discuss the role of women in the world today. As we mark this International Women’s Day, we must consider the current state of global affairs. Just last week, while the defence budget received a significant increase, we learned that the international aid budget is set to be reduced by £6 billion a year. This is a troubling shift—one that disproportionately affects women and girls around the world.
We must carefully consider the impact these cuts will have on some of the most pressing challenges that women face globally, including in sexual and reproductive health and rights. When we discuss the rights of women and girls, particularly their sexual and reproductive health, we cannot ignore the role that STEM has played in improving women’s lives. Innovations in these fields have allowed for advances that not only benefit women’s health but provide greater autonomy, allowing women to make informed choices about their reproductive health.
The development of contraceptive methods, fertility treatments and safe childbirth procedures has given women more control over their reproductive choices and their futures. In addition to medical breakthroughs, the role of technology cannot be overstated. Telemedicine, for example, allows women in rural areas to access reproductive health services remotely. Mobile apps help women track menstrual cycles, fertility windows and pregnancy progress, further empowering them to make informed decisions. I must emphasise that the health data that women share on these apps must be protected by tech companies and not sold on, as I share the concern of the noble Baroness, Lady Hazarika, about the anti-abortion laws in the USA. Tech companies must not be allowed to weaponise fertility tracking apps to vilify women getting abortions. Data science has also played a crucial role in predicting and controlling the spread of STIs and in shaping public health policies that guide sexual and reproductive health education.
Despite these remarkable advancements, significant challenges remain in many low-income and rural areas across the globe. Access to sexual and reproductive health services is still limited. Cultural stigmas continue to hinder open discussions, and gender disparities in STEM fields restrict the contributions of women in reproductive health research and innovation. To overcome these barriers, we must invest in STEM education for young girls and women, ensuring that their voices and perspectives are represented in the research and innovations that shape reproductive health policies. STEM has already transformed sexual and reproductive health, making it safer, more effective and more accessible. It has given women greater autonomy and allowed for the development of life-saving medications. We must continue to harness this power of STEM to alleviate poverty and contribute to economic and social development globally.
As we see the cuts to the UK’s overseas development assistance budget, I urge His Majesty’s Government to recognise that investing in sexual and reproductive health and rights is not only morally imperative but highly cost effective. Research in these areas has the potential to yield substantial returns—£100 for every pound invested. Will His Majesty’s Government consider ring-fencing sexual and reproductive health and rights funding within the aid budget? Women and girls across the globe deserve the chance to thrive, and it is our responsibility to make sure that they have the tools and support they need to do so.
Equality Act 2010: Diversity of Political Candidates
Baroness Smith of Llanfaes Excerpts(3 weeks, 1 day ago)
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Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
I think my noble friend the Leader of the House has considerable sympathy but also a lot of experience in the complexities of this type of legislation. I think, on the basis of her wisdom, I will leave it to her to respond to that particular issue.
Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (PC)
Ahead of the Senedd elections next year, my party Plaid Cymru has decided to reserve the first position on the internal selection process for half of the constituencies for women. Will the Minister share some more ideas for what other parties could do to ensure that we have a gender-equal Parliament in Wales and here in Westminster?
Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
Our colleague Jane Hutt has written to the Secretary of State to talk about the action being taken in advance of the Senedd elections next year. I am sure that Labour and other parties will want to ensure a representative Senedd. I suspect that the ability to take the action the noble Baroness outlined was dependent on the previous Labour Government putting into law the ability to take that sort of positive action. It is because of that that we have seen the progress we have up to this point. Better representation in our politics does not happen by accident; it happens by people being willing to take action and be transparent. That is what parties which are serious about it support.
Higher Education: Creative Courses
Baroness Smith of Llanfaes Excerpts(1 month ago)
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Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
As the noble Lord identified, support is continuing for those very important organisations to provide access for the most able musicians to the sort of development that is important to them. The Government have had to take some very difficult fiscal decisions, given the legacy we inherited from the previous Government; notwithstanding that, we are committed to developing creative subjects and, for example, launching a new national music education network to help families, children and schools access broader opportunities and support in that area.
Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (PC)
My Lords, 290 jobs are set to be cut from Bangor University and the University of South Wales, and 400 jobs are proposed to be cut at Cardiff University, including by closing its music courses. What formal role will the Welsh Government play in the HE review that is to be conducted by the Minister? What consideration has she made of how to include the voices of students and those working at universities in that review?
Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
As the noble Baroness suggests, this is a responsibility for the Welsh Government, but I was able to talk to Members of Parliament representing Cardiff constituencies and to the Welsh Minister who has responsibility for higher education. In those conversations, we talked about the need for a long-term sustainable funding system for our higher education. Although that is a responsibility for the Government as it relates to England, I am also committed to ensuring that we keep those forms of communication open and are able to work together with our colleagues in Wales in order to put our higher education institutions back on to a much sounder financial footing, and ensure that universities are making long-term strategic decisions—autonomously and independently, rightly—supported by longer-term stability in their finances.
Erasmus+
Baroness Smith of Llanfaes Excerpts(6 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
As the noble Baroness identified, as did the noble Lord, Lord Wallace, there was a considerable asymmetry in the Erasmus+ scheme. Of course, I accept that there is considerable benefit from welcoming students, teachers and others from overseas into the UK. That is why the Government have given a much warmer welcome to international students into our higher education institutions than was the case with the previous Government. Erasmus is not the only way in which we can help support language learning. That is why, as I outlined to the noble Lord, the English language assistants programme, which is delivered by the DfE and the British Council, makes an important contribution to enabling paid teaching placements overseas for UK residents to improve their language skills, as well as placements in the UK for non-UK residents to assist with teaching, for example, French, Spanish, Mandarin, German and Italian. All of those—I accept the noble Baroness’s point—are important in our schools and further education institutions.
Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (PC)
My Lords, next year, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement is due for review. It is essential that we consult and acknowledge the views of young people about their aspirations for our international relationships. Will the Government explore the needs and aspirations of young people and future generations ahead of the trade and co-operation review?