Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Danielle Rowley and Dominic Raab

Thursday 19th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dominic Raab]

My hon. Friend makes a good point. We are ending free movement. We want, in order to restore confidence in our immigration system, to control the numbers of people coming here. We want to make sure we have stronger checks at the border, for security purposes. But it is absolutely right to say that this country benefits from immigration, including in the way he described. The proposals we put forward on mobility will make sure we continue to do so in the future.

[Danielle Rowley (Midlothian) (Lab)]

T5. Does the Secretary of State still believe that EU proposals to promote gender parity in boardrooms amount to “tokenism” and that “inexperienced people” will end up on boards? If not, how will he promote gender equality through the Brexit process?

[Dominic Raab]

I thank the hon. Lady for that question. I am meritocratic to my heart; I do not believe in any discrimination, be it against men or women. Of course we are going to maintain our strong equality standards— and indeed reinforce them. We do not need Brussels for that; we need active and energetic Members in all parts of this House.