Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Davies Excerpts

Thursday 2nd February 2017 Commons Chamber

[The Solicitor General]

My hon. Friend is right to press the Government for a commitment to action. Work is being done with the Ministry of Justice, and both the Attorney General and I are committed to ironing out the obvious inconsistencies in the system, which cause understandable frustration among victims and their families.

[Chris Davies (Brecon and Radnorshire) (Con)]

Over the last 12 months, how often has my hon. and learned Friend been asked to review sentences handed down by the courts?

[The Solicitor General]

The number of sentences continues to increase. In 2015 we considered 713 requests, but of 80,000 passed in England and Wales in that year, only just over 100 were varied by the scheme. I think that that represents a vote of confidence in our judges and magistrates.

--- Later in debate ---

[Brandon Lewis]

As I just said, we have increased the funding to VAWG services to £80 million, and we are working with commissioners in local areas to make sure they can deliver the services that they understand are correct for their area and the women who live there.

[Chris Davies (Brecon and Radnorshire) (Con)]

I am proud that my local authority, Powys County Council, has become a white ribbon authority. Will my hon. Friend the Minister do all he can to encourage all local authorities to follow that example?

[Brandon Lewis]

My hon. Friend gives a really good example of where local work is delivering really good local results in a way that others can look at. We have to get better, throughout this country, at sharing best practice, and that is a really good example that others can look at.

--- Later in debate ---

[Justine Greening]

I have just set out that the female employment rate is at a record high, which is good news and we want it to progress. Indeed, it is the third highest female employment rate in the whole G7.

[Chris Davies (Brecon and Radnorshire) (Con)]

T4. What are the Government doing to support men to take a more active role in looking after their children?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women and Equalities (Caroline Dinenage)]

We know that when fathers take an active role in childcare, it is not only great for their relationships with their children; it is also important in eliminating the gender pay gap. That is why we have introduced shared parental leave and extended the right to request flexible working, helping both mums and dads to balance their work life with their family commitments.