Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Davies Excerpts

Thursday 15th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

The companies in Bristol seem to know already what is going on, without requiring any contribution from the hon. Lady—financial or otherwise. They are not only creating huge numbers of jobs, but are among the best export hubs in the whole of the United Kingdom, showing excellence in whole areas from the creative industries to aerospace. She need not worry too much.

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

T3. Will my right hon. Friend inform the House what plans his Department has to support Small Business Saturday?

[Dr Fox]

There are a number of events up and down the country. I will be hosting events in my own constituency, using the export hub. A number of Members will already have used the hub in their own constituencies. This is a great initiative, and it is a chance for MPs of all parties to show just how much support they give to small businesses. I know that a number of MPs hosted events up and down the country last year. I will be doing so, and I urge my hon. Friend to do so, although I am sure he requires no urging whatsoever. I hope that Members on both sides of the House will use this opportunity to celebrate the success of small business.

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[Kelly Tolhurst]

The hon. Lady is a champion for all things around women, and I would be happy to meet her at some stage to talk about her particular concerns.

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

8. What plans the Government have to mark the 100th anniversary of women being allowed to stand for Parliament.

[The Minister for Women and Equalities (Penny Mordaunt)]

rose—

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[Penny Mordaunt]

The Government Equalities Office will be holding a conference to celebrate the centenary of the Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918 on 21 November 2018. The GEO is also providing financial assistance to ensure that every MP in this House can invite a woman constituent into Parliament for the day, and I hope that all MPs will be doing that.

[Chris Davies]

I thank my right hon. Friend for her answer. It was great to see female MPs from around the globe pledge to support one another’s fight for gender equality recently. Will my right hon. Friend update the House on that first ever meeting of women MPs from every Parliament around the world?

[Penny Mordaunt]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising that important point. One of the outcomes of that day, alongside the issues that the women discussed, was the desire expressed by me and the other host of the event that those women should form a lasting network to support one another in fighting for gender equality around the world.

Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Davies Excerpts

Thursday 22nd February 2018 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

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

1. What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the trade envoy programme.

[The Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade (Dr Liam Fox)]

The Prime Minister’s trade envoys do a great job engaging with countries where trade and investment opportunities have been identified. Last year, trade envoys helped contribute to export wins of more than £15.5 billion in their markets. Based on an outlay of just under £250,000 for the programme over the same period, each trade envoy, on average, supported £700 million in exports.

[Chris Davies]

Does my right hon. Friend plan to appoint any further trade envoys beyond those already appointed?

[Dr Fox]

That is the least disguised job application that I have heard in some time. There are 30 trade envoys covering 60 markets around the world. The programme is reviewed regularly in consultation with our overseas team and any new suggestions are put to the Prime Minister. I will let my hon. Friend know as soon as possible if any vacancies occur.

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[Victoria Atkins]

Upskirting is a modern phenomenon, and it is fair to say that the law has not quite kept up with modern habits. It is an issue of which I am aware, not least because my police and crime commissioner campaigns on it thoroughly. The Government are considering the issue, and perhaps in due course I could meet the hon. Lady to discuss it with her.

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

What ongoing work are the Government doing to tackle domestic violence?

[Amber Rudd]

I reassure my hon. Friend that we take domestic violence very seriously. We will shortly bring forward a consultation ahead of a new domestic violence Bill that will address that heinous crime and, I believe, start to reduce the amount of domestic abuse and violence that exists in this country.

Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Davies Excerpts

Thursday 12th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Cabinet Office (Caroline Nokes)]

I thank the hon. Lady for her question. It is important that we look closely at the findings of the racial disparity audit that was released this week and work across the Government in every Department—including the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education—to bring forward positive changes to address some of the very uncomfortable findings in the audit.

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

We have made incredible progress since women won the right to vote, and I am especially proud of my female colleagues and Ministers and, of course, our second female Prime Minister. What more will the Minister do to increase the number of women in Parliament?

[The Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills (Anne Milton)]

I thank my hon. Friend for that question. Interestingly, for all political parties—much of this is down to political parties—it is about the pipeline. Only 17% of council leaders are women; only one third of councillors are women; and, shockingly, of the board members of combined authorities, only 4% are women. Next year represents a fantastic opportunity not only to celebrate the centenary, but for all elected representatives to encourage more women to enter public life.

Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Davies Excerpts

Thursday 6th July 2017 Commons Chamber

[James Duddridge (Rochford and Southend East) (Con)]

1. What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.

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

7. What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other Commonwealth countries on the future of trade and investment between the UK and those countries.

[The Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade (Dr Liam Fox)]

Ministerial colleagues and I regularly engage with business stakeholders and policy makers in Commonwealth partner countries. In March, my noble Friend Lord Price and I met over 20 visiting Trade Ministers at the inaugural Commonwealth Trade Ministers meeting in London, and we discussed strengthening collaboration and deepening intra-Commonwealth trade and investment. We are now preparing for the Commonwealth summit in 2018.

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[Dr Fox]

We are sympathetic to the concept of an African continental free trade area, and we are in favour of a range of initiatives to help foster wider and greater intra-Commonwealth trade. There is a great deal to be gained for all Commonwealth partners from closer co-operation. The Government’s aim—including through the development agenda championed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development—is to create sustainable prosperity, and helping developing countries to enable them to trade their way out of poverty is an essential and key element of that strategy.

[Chris Davies]

Britain and the Commonwealth nations share a great history, and over the years have formed many great links across academia, sport, culture and numerous other areas. What steps has my right hon. Friend taken to expand this co-operation with Commonwealth countries to include a free trade agreement, so that we can add business and commerce to the long list of Commonwealth co-operative endeavours?

[Dr Fox]

As my hon. Friend knows, the Commonwealth is not a trading bloc, and it actually contains a number of very disparate economies. We are liaising with several Commonwealth partners about bilateral agreements in the future, and my Department is working with stakeholders to develop initiatives that will stimulate UK and intra-Commonwealth trade and investment in the lead up to and beyond that vital Commonwealth summit next year.

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[Dr Fox]

We are all concerned about the overproduction of steel, largely coming from China, and what we have seen as possibly unacceptable subsidies into that sector, but it needs to be addressed in a way that is compliant with the WTO rules-based system. I raised with Secretary Ross and the trade representative, Mr Lighthizer, the impact that could have on the United Kingdom, and it is fair to say that our views landed. We now await the publication of the report, on which the President has up to 90 days to act.

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

T4. Brecon and Radnorshire is full of excellent small business owners who are looking to trade with the rest of the world, but many are concerned that the trade deals the UK is looking to make with the rest of the world will focus on big, rather than small, businesses. What assurance can my right hon. Friend give to small business owners that their voice will not be lost in negotiations?

[The Minister for Trade and Investment (Greg Hands)]

My hon. Friend makes an extremely strong point. Over 99% of businesses in this country’s non-financial business economy are small and medium-sized enterprises. Last year we helped over 1,200 Welsh companies, most of which were SMEs, and we ensure that we have regular SME-focused roundtables. We meet SME representative groups and, of course, SMEs can always access our portal, GREAT.gov.uk, which gives important indicators on how to improve their exports.

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[Edward Argar (Charnwood) (Con)]

6. What steps the Government are taking to reduce the gender pay gap.

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

7. What steps the Government are taking to reduce the gender pay gap.

[Gillian Keegan (Chichester) (Con)]

10. What steps the Government are taking to reduce the gender pay gap.

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[Justine Greening]

Absolutely. Mandatory reporting is just the start. We have worked with business to publish guidance on how to pull together accurate information and set out case studies showing what businesses and trail-blazing employers are already doing. With the Government Equalities Office, we recently held events in places such as Leeds and Glasgow that gave employers an opportunity to showcase the business benefits of closing their gender pay gap.

[Chris Davies]

I congratulate the Department for Education on being the first Government Department to publish its gender pay gap and its bonus pay gap. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the Department is leading by example in promoting gender equality in the workforce?

[Justine Greening]

I hope that is correct. It is important work and we are strongly encouraging other civil service Departments and employers across the public sector to follow suit.

Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Davies Excerpts

Thursday 23rd March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jones]

I reassure my right hon. Friend that we are working closely with housing associations on that important issue, and particularly on getting the funding stream right for supported housing. We are also working on bringing badly needed new supply on stream.

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

11. What assessment she has made of recent trends in the number of women in work.

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

I am delighted that there are now more women in work than ever before, and that the female employment rate is nearly 70%, which is the highest on record. The female employment rate has increased by more since 2010 than it increased during the three previous Parliaments combined.

[Chris Davies]

Recent figures show that record-breaking numbers of women are in work under this Government. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is only by creating a stronger, fairer economy that works for everyone that we will continue to see records being broken?

[Caroline Dinenage]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to draw attention to that. We want to ensure that all women can fulfil their potential. That is why the Government have extended the right to flexible working and introduced shared parental leave. From September, we will double the 30 hours childcare offer.

Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Davies Excerpts

Thursday 3rd November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Karen Bradley]

I know that the hon. Lady is campaigning hard on this issue and I will look at all that she has said.

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

T7. On a recent visit to Lambourn I saw at first hand the significance of the horse-racing industry to our rural economy, so will the Minister confirm that the proposed replacement of the horse-racing betting levy is on track for April 2017?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Tracey Crouch)]

Yes.