Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Eddie Hughes and Penny Mordaunt

Wednesday 12th June 2019 Commons Chamber

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

Let me begin by saying that I hope the whole House will join me in wishing good luck to England and Scotland for their world cup matches this Friday.

We have set up a taskforce, which I co-chair with Plan International and Procter & Gamble. It will improve data and evidence on period poverty, and improve access to period products for all women and girls. Internationally, we have committed the United Kingdom to leading a new campaign of action to end period poverty and shame globally by 2030.

[Eddie Hughes]

Will the Minister join me in celebrating the great work done by the Red Box project, which is helping me to distribute sanitary products to schools across my constituency?

[Penny Mordaunt]

I do congratulate Red Box, and also the many organisations throughout the country which Members will know well in their own constituencies. As well as bringing together the manufacturers, the taskforce brings together a network of all those organisations so that we can combat period poverty across the UK.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Eddie Hughes and Penny Mordaunt

Thursday 14th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Penny Mordaunt]

I thank the hon. Lady for raising this issue. It is a very serious matter indeed. I will certainly ask the relevant Minister at the Department for Education to meet her, and I will also follow up.

[Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con)]

We should accentuate the positive. Last year, 68.8% of those accepted on law undergraduate courses were women. The future for law in this country is bright. Does the Minister agree?

[Penny Mordaunt]

Every human endeavour depends for its success on women’s involvement, so, yes, I am pleased about progress, but more needs to be done.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Eddie Hughes and Penny Mordaunt

Thursday 7th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con)]

T4. What advice would the Minister give to women, including my daughter, who recently signed a petition seeking to make smear tests routinely available to women under 25?

[Penny Mordaunt]

My answer will be similar to that which I gave to the hon. Member for Washington and Sunderland West (Mrs Hodgson) on Question 1. Clinical decisions are taken with regard to age range, but whatever age is set, there will always be people who fall outside it—in this case those younger than 25. What is critical is that people know what is normal for them and what symptoms they should be worried about. The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price), who has responsibility for women’s health issues and inequalities, is doing great work with her new taskforce on women’s health to identify what a safe period looks like and examine issues such as menopause so that women and girls everywhere really understand when they should be concerned about something and seek help.