Equality: Hung Parliament

Baroness Hussein-Ece Excerpts

Thursday 29th June 2017 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Vere of Norbiton]

My noble friend is of course quite right, but each and every one of us can apply our own pressure in our own way.

[Baroness Hussein-Ece (LD)]

My Lords, given what the Minister said about no backsliding on equality, is she aware of how inequalities in the United Kingdom have widened? According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, by 2020 child poverty is set to reach the level at which 5 million children live below the poverty line. Given what she said earlier about arrangements being made for Northern Ireland, can she assure us that there will be sufficient funds available for the rest of the country to ensure that inequalities on this scale do not continue?

[Baroness Vere of Norbiton]

I thank the noble Baroness for her comment. I think it is well beyond my brief, and indeed my pay grade, to comment on such broad issues, but I am sure she will raise them again.