Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Margaret Ferrier

Wednesday 13th July 2022 Commons Chamber

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

3. What recent steps she has taken to encourage women and girls to pursue careers in STEM subjects.

[The Minister for Women and Equalities (Elizabeth Truss)]

The increasing number of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics has been a huge asset to our country. Look at Sarah Gilbert, creator of the covid vaccine. Around 35% of the wage gap can be overcome if we get more women into high paid occupations, and that is exactly what we are working on.

[Margaret Ferrier]

Lack of diversity in science academia is an obstacle that must be overcome to maximise creativity and scientific innovation. Among the findings on diversity data and grant funding from Cancer Research UK was the fact that female and ethnic minority researchers hold fewer programme awards than their white and male colleagues. How can the Government level the playing field for women and ethnic minorities who are applying for research grants in those essential areas?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I am pleased to say that we are now seeing more women enter undergraduate courses in universities: 42% of undergraduate STEM students in the United Kingdom are women. What we need to do is open up all those research opportunities—those more senior opportunities—in our universities.

Ukraine Update

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Margaret Ferrier

Thursday 16th June 2022 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

I can confirm that there has been £256 billion-worth of impact on the Russian economy. We have also seen the economy pushed back by roughly 15 years in the availability of goods and services in Russia. That sends an important message to Russia and to the Russian people that their Government’s actions in supporting this appalling war are simply unacceptable.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

I thank the Foreign Secretary for her statement. Her colleague the Defence Secretary has said that “China is watching”, which makes the outcome in Ukraine even more important. What engagement has she had with counterparts in Taiwan, who will be feeling anxious as the war in Ukraine continues?

Iran Detainees

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Margaret Ferrier

Wednesday 16th March 2022 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

I hear what the hon. Gentleman says. We do have an arrangement, and it was part of the very careful negotiations that have taken place over the past six months that this deal would be kept confidential. We have the humanitarian assurances on the IMF front and I will see what I can do within the bounds of that. However, the United Kingdom is a country that keeps its word and we have given our word to keep this confidential.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

This is a good day. The release of Nazanin and Anoosheh is extremely welcome news, and I thank the Foreign Secretary and her officials. I pay tribute to the families for their bravery, courage and resilience. I did not want to have to see Richard go on a third hunger strike. Given the length of time they were detained, and the fact that other dual nationals continue to be detained in Iran, how will the Foreign Secretary ensure that the Government learn lessons from these cases, including in relation to the provision of consular services for UK nationals and their families more generally?

[Elizabeth Truss]

We have seen some very good consular services in these and other cases. The lesson to be learned is the broader lesson about arbitrary detention and how we work with our allies and partners to stop it. I will update the House on the progress of the arbitrary detention work that we are undertaking with the Canadians. We first discussed this back in November at the NATO Foreign Ministers summit, we discussed it again at the G7 meeting, and we are making some real progress, so I would be happy to have further discussions in due course.

Sanctions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Margaret Ferrier

Monday 28th February 2022 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

That is a matter for the Home Office, and I would be very pleased to raise the hon. Gentleman’s case with the Home Secretary.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

The World Health Organisation has warned that oxygen supplies are running dangerously low in Ukraine, and that it is working with international partners to get urgent shipments through Poland. Can the Foreign Secretary confirm what medical aid the UK Government are providing to Ukraine to help it to maintain essential services?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I discussed this issue with my right hon. Friend the Health Secretary this morning. We have a shipment, or rather a cargo, of medical supplies, and our Ministry of Defence is helping to facilitate that into Ukraine.

Russia: Sanctions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Margaret Ferrier

Monday 31st January 2022 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

We are shortly about to launch our international tech strategy, which will talk precisely about setting standards in areas like artificial intelligence and quantum. It is important that it is the free world that is setting those standards rather than their being dictated by authoritarian regimes.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

There are concerns in the food industry that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could lead to food shortages in the UK, as Ukraine is becoming a significant exporter of goods such as cereal products to the UK. What plans do the Government have to protect UK food supplies if Putin opts to disregard sanctions and presses ahead?

[Elizabeth Truss]

We have an important trade relationship with Ukraine, which is why it is so important that we support Ukraine economically. That is why we have built in extra trade co-operation, and why it is so important that we deter the Russian Government from an incursion into Ukraine.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Margaret Ferrier

Thursday 23rd January 2020 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

My hon. Friend is right: we cannot allow dumping practices to go undealt with, and the trade remedies authority will be there to take a tough line in areas such as ceramics. Because we are leaving the European Union, we have the opportunity to have a policy that reflects the needs of the UK and the priorities of UK consumers and UK manufacturers. I am determined to have that, but we must also seek to lower the tariffs on exports for our producers, because we want to see British ceramics, particularly from Stoke-on-Trent, on tables around the world.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (SNP)]

5. What assessment her Department has made of the effect of the end of freedom of movement in the UK on bilateral trade with the EU in goods and services.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Margaret Ferrier

Tuesday 7th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

My hon. Friend is correct. We are taking an outside-in approach: we are finding employers who have jobs to offer on the outside, and they then start to deliver training on the inside, so that the individual goes straight into an apprenticeship or employment on release. We already have a very successful scheme involving Land Securities and Halfords, and we are building up the number of employers that are part of that arrangement.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (SNP)]

There are many great examples of prison enterprises, such as the Freedom Bakery, which is a social enterprise artisan bakery that operates in the Scottish Prison Service at HMP Low Moss near Glasgow. What measures are the Government taking to encourage such initiatives south of the border?

[Elizabeth Truss]

That is an important initiative. We have several initiatives in our prisons, including the Clink Restaurant and the Bad Boys’ Bakery, which does excellent baked goods—I think I mentioned it last time. There are huge opportunities in catering and cheffing, in which we have skill shortages. We can do a great deal with apprenticeships to make sure that people are trained up to take on those roles on release.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Margaret Ferrier

Tuesday 24th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

Once we leave the European Union, British judges will once again be the final decision makers in our courts. I am sure that our world-renowned judiciary will rise to the challenge, and I am working very closely with them on arrangements.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (SNP)]

The Government have signalled their intention to remain a member of Europol after we leave the European Union. Is there a similar resolve to continue membership of Eurojust?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I am working with the Home Secretary on arrangements for criminal justice after leaving the European Union, as well as with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Margaret Ferrier

Tuesday 1st November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

My hon. Friend is nothing but bold. I absolutely agree with him that we need to change the way we are doing things, because the fact is that we have had a persistently high reoffending rate. Almost half the people in prison will reoffend within a year, and that is not acceptable. We need to give governors the power to turn lives around, to get people off drugs and to get them into work.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (SNP)]

The Ministry’s review into the care and management of transgender offenders was due to be concluded in the spring, but almost a year since the review was first announced, a report is yet to be published. Can the Secretary of State update the House today on when we can expect to see that report?