Oral Answers to Questions

Chi Onwurah Excerpts

Thursday 27th November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Sajid Javid]

I was pleased to meet my hon. Friend and representatives from his constituency to discuss that important point in history, which I think it is right to mark. Another good reason to look at it is that it could do a lot for the local economy.

[Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)]

Five years ago the previous Labour Government made a commitment on universal broadband access for everyone. The Minister might talk superfast, but the fact is that up and down the country people and businesses are waiting to get decent broadband so that they can carry on their business and that essential part of their lives that is now lived online. What is he going to do about it?

[The Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy (Mr Edward Vaizey)]

Five years ago the previous Labour Government made an unfunded commitment to deliver 2 megabits broadband. There was no way in which they would be able to see that through. We have doubled the availability of superfast broadband and provided 2 megabits to 97% of the country. One in four now have superfast broadband. We have the best broadband in the EU big five, and the cheapest.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

No colleague need be shy; repetition is not an unknown phenomenon in the House of Commons.

[Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)]

2. What steps she is taking to ensure equal pay for men and women.

[Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab)]

8. What steps she is taking to ensure equal pay for men and women.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women and Equalities (Jo Swinson)]

It is good to see that over the past year the gender pay gap has fallen significantly to 19.1%—its lowest ever level. However, we are determined to build on this, and our aim must be to eliminate the gender pay gap. We are promoting pay transparency through the Think, Act, Report initiative; transforming the workplace to ensure flexible working and shared parental leave; and, through the Your Life campaign, encouraging girls and young women to consider a wide range of careers, including well-paid careers in technology and engineering.

[Chi Onwurah]

On Monday, the headline in Newcastle’s The Journal was “Women pay high price for the long slump”, highlighting the fact that in the north-east the gender pay gap is rising; in Newcastle, it stands at 16%. Why is the Minister’s Government making women pay for the financial crisis caused by the banks, and what is she going to do about it?

[Jo Swinson]

The hon. Lady is rather interesting in her portrayal of the circumstances that led up to the financial crisis, particularly regarding the part that her party’s Government might have had to play in that situation. I have pointed out that this Government are absolutely determined to eliminate the pay gap and to make sure that it continues to fall as it has over the past year. We also have more women in work than ever before. We have created 2 million extra jobs over the course of this Government’s time in office, and unemployment has been falling across the country, including in the north-east of England.