International Women’s Day

Baroness Taylor of Bolton Excerpts

Friday 8th March 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Taylor of Bolton (Lab)]

My Lords, I think the noble Baroness, Lady Owen, has united everybody in this House in terms of the concerns that she has outlined. She is quite right to say that we should all be extremely worried, especially, perhaps, in election year.

I start by adding my congratulations to my noble friend Lady Gale, not just on this debate but because she has worked so hard on these issues over so many years. It is right that, on International Women’s Day, we draw attention to the unbelievable problems that women in Afghanistan and other parts of the world are facing—but, of course, we have to look closer to home as well. I have to admit that I find myself getting angry every time this debate comes round, because I feel a great sense of frustration that the hope that many of us had that progress would have been quicker on a whole range of issues has not come to pass.

It is right that we should use this debate to celebrate the progress that has been made and the achievements that many people have outlined. When I first entered the House of Commons, admittedly many years ago, there were 26 of us women MPs. In 1997, when I was the leader in the Commons, I stood with Tony Blair welcoming 100 Labour women MPs. Now we have 35% overall, because other parties have done a little as well. But to see breakthroughs of that kind in women’s representation—having more women on boards and as vice-chancellors of universities, or having a woman as President of the Supreme Court—is not enough. We really have to look at the overall experience of ordinary women in this country and, frankly, that is still deeply disturbing.

I was recently fortunate enough to open a debate in this House on maternity services. It was prompted partly by the unbelievable fact that in Kirklees, a large metropolitan area, there are no NHS birthing facilities at all. The prestigious Brontë centre in Dewsbury, which I remember being opened, has been closed since August 2022 and the centre at Huddersfield hospital has been closed for more than 12 months, both because of a shortage of midwives. How can local women in labour be expected to believe in progress if they cannot get local services like that, which they need? Nationally, we also had the report of the Care Quality Commission, which said that almost half the maternity units that it inspected last year were rated as inadequate or in need of improvement. It was half and, as it said, it was not just a post-Covid problem but had been developing for some time.

I will mention two reports that have recently struck me as very important. The first is from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and shows that one in 10 workers are in persistent low pay: that is, four out of five years spent earning below the living wage. It shows that very few of them—one in 20—get out of it and move on. Crucially, one particular finding is striking: of those trapped in persistent low pay, 72% are women. That highlights the structural discrimination against women in the workplace that very often exists. I think that many women will be tempted to say, “Progress? What progress?”.

The second report that I want to mention is from Scottish Widows and touches on some of the issues that the noble Lord, Lord Davies, mentioned. Its research shows that, looking forward and taking into account private pensions, savings and everything of that kind, it estimates a 39% gender gap—nearly 40%. It estimates that the average woman is set to receive an income of £12,000 a year after housing costs; the comparable figure for a man is £19,000. It is £12,000 for a woman and £19,000 for a man, and the report goes on to say that two-thirds of single women, 60% of divorced women and 75% of single mothers are not on track for a minimum pension that would sustain their lifestyle. This is 2024 and I find this immensely depressing. The noble Lord, Lord Davies, pointed out some of the different approaches needed and we really are getting to the stage where this needs absolute and urgent attention.

Finally, if all that was not enough, yesterday the headline from the Women’s Budget Group—after Wednesday’s Budget—was:

“Tax giveaways to better off men will cost worse off women”.


That is the situation we are facing; we need to take it on board and make changes.

The noble Baroness, Lady Boycott, said that we in this House have had amazing opportunities. That is true, but we are not typical and we have a responsibility to other people. So, yes, let us celebrate success, but let us have no illusions, and let us remember how much there is still to do. I am sure that the noble Baroness, Lady Casey, in her maiden speech, which is very welcome, will be able to point us in that direction.