Oral Answers to Questions

Guy Opperman Excerpts

Thursday 22nd February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Anna McMorrin]

Tomorrow in my constituency of Cardiff North, I am hosting a pensions inequality meeting for women born in the 1950s. When will this Government be prepared to support these women all over the country who are being shamelessly exploited and robbed of their pensions?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Guy Opperman)]

This legislation was passed in 1995 to create an equality between men and women. Those who seek to change the legislation would be effectively creating an inequality between men and women on an ongoing basis that has a dubious nature in law and an inequality between 1950s-born women and 1960s-born women.

[Vicky Ford (Chelmsford) (Con)]

T4. In this important centenary year, what steps are the Government taking to tackle the online abuse of women in public life?

[Angela Crawley (Lanark and Hamilton East) (SNP)]

I welcome the draft Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill. As well as looking at new initiatives, I hope that it will consider the impact of Government policy on domestic violence. Will the Minister give a commitment that the child maintenance reform will include the abolition of the 4% tax on survivors of domestic violence? Will she ensure that that is included in the draft Bill?

[Guy Opperman]

I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her question. I will refer to colleagues who are working on specific matters in relation to child maintenance, and we will make sure we write to her with a response on that important point within a week.

[Mr Simon Clarke (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Con)]

Some 89% of those who take time out of work to fulfil caring responsibilities are women, and employers, as my right hon. Friend has identified, have a huge role to play in helping women to return to work when they wish to. Can she set out more detail about the plans to publish guidance on best practice for private sector employers?

--- Later in debate ---

[Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Berwick-upon-Tweed) (Con)]

Will the Minister update the House on what the Government are doing to improve female eligibility for auto-enrolment both nationally and in my constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed?

[Guy Opperman]

In 2012, the overall participation of female employees in workplace pensions was 58%, but this has now increased to 80%, which is above the figure for men. In my hon. Friend’s constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed, 1,020 employers have enrolled 6,000 employees into an auto-enrolled pension, including a very large proportion of women. I will update the House with the number of auto-enrolled employees in every constituency very shortly.

[Ruth Cadbury (Brentford and Isleworth) (Lab)]

T2. What steps are the Government taking to ensure that women are not asked about their family plans or their childcare arrangements in job interviews?

--- Later in debate ---

[Peter Heaton-Jones (North Devon) (Con)]

Further to the Minister’s earlier answer, if the state pension ages of men and women were to be different, would that infringe equality legislation?

[Guy Opperman]

Potentially yes.

[Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) (Lab)]

Will the Minister explain what plans the Government will introduce to protect the 200 women and children who are turned away from refuges every single day?