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Written Question
Domestic Abuse: Mental Health Services
Monday 8th July 2019

Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what protections he plans to introduce in the Domestic Abuse Bill to provide for the mental health needs of victims of domestic abuse.

Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Government is committed to improving the response to victims of domestic abuse through the provisions set out in our draft Domestic Abuse Bill and consultation response.

We are carefully considering the recommendations from the Joint Committee on the draft Domestic Abuse Bill about improving access to public services for victims of domestic abuse and their children and will be responding to the Committee’s report in due course.

We want to improve the provision of mental health services to ensure that they are available to anyone in need of such services, including domestic abuse victims. We have therefore committed to investing at least an additional £2.3bn per year in mental health services by 2023/24

On 17 June the Prime Minister announced a wide-ranging package of measures to strengthen the response to mental health, including training for all new teachers on how to spot the signs of mental health issues, additional funding to support local authorities to deliver local suicide prevention plans and updated professional standards for social workers across England to increase their knowledge and skills when helping those with mental health issues.

Written Question
Trespass
Tuesday 18th June 2019

Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to undertake a public consultation on proposals to strengthen police powers in response to trespassing.

Answered by Nick Hurd

On 6 February, the Home Secretary announced a set of measures to extend powers available to the police, which we believe will enable unauthorised encampments to be tackled more effectively. The Written Ministerial Statement can be found at https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2019-02-06/debates/19020635000011/EnforcementAgainstUnauthorisedEncampments.

The Home Secretary also made clear that the Home Office would conduct a review into how the Government can criminalise unauthorised encampments. This review is currently underway, and a public consultation will be launched on the final set of proposals this summer.

Written Question
Travellers: Caravan Sites
Tuesday 18th June 2019

Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timeframe is for his Department to undertake a review of the potential criminalisation of unauthorised developments.

Answered by Nick Hurd

On 6 February, the Home Secretary announced a set of measures to extend powers available to the police, which we believe will enable unauthorised encampments to be tackled more effectively. The Written Ministerial Statement can be found at https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2019-02-06/debates/19020635000011/EnforcementAgainstUnauthorisedEncampments.

The Home Secretary also made clear that the Home Office would conduct a review into how the Government can criminalise unauthorised encampments. This review is currently underway, and a public consultation will be launched on the final set of proposals this summer.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 07 Mar 2019
International Women’s Day

"My right hon. Friend is making some very powerful arguments on the way that this place could change to make it a better place for female MPs and mothers, but does she agree that such changes would be good for fathers as well? I have had quite a few conversations …..."
Helen Whately - View Speech

View all Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent) contributions to the debate on: International Women’s Day
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 07 Mar 2019
International Women’s Day

"When making her maiden speech 100 years ago Nancy Astor, the first woman to take her seat in this House, reassured the crowd of men around her. She said that Members should not be frightened and that

“when Drake and Raleigh wanted to set out on their venturesome careers, some …..."
Helen Whately - View Speech

View all Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent) contributions to the debate on: International Women’s Day
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 12 Feb 2019
Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme

"I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way—although I did not mean to interrupt him mid-sentence. I have one point to make. Those of us with significant soft fruit farmers in our constituencies are calling for a seasonal agricultural workers scheme to ensure sufficient labour. At the moment, one of …..."
Helen Whately - View Speech

View all Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent) contributions to the debate on: Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 30 Jan 2019
Draft Domestic Abuse Bill: Territorial Extent

"May I ask my hon. Friend to confirm two things? First, is she committed and determined to tackle domestic abuse in all its forms? Secondly, is she determined to improve rights and protections for women across the United Kingdom?..."
Helen Whately - View Speech

View all Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent) contributions to the debate on: Draft Domestic Abuse Bill: Territorial Extent
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 21 Jan 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"In the coming months, fruit farmers in my constituency plan to welcome thousands of migrant workers from the European Union. Will my right hon. Friend assure me that, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, these workers will still be able to come to make sure we can pick and …..."
Helen Whately - View Speech

View all Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 05 Dec 2018
Gender Pay Gap

"Thank you, Sir David. I congratulate the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Stella Creasy) on securing this debate and on her speech, which she delivered with characteristic passion and peppered with huge quantities of data. I start by reflecting that the gender pay gap is at an historic low of 8.9%. …..."
Helen Whately - View Speech

View all Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent) contributions to the debate on: Gender Pay Gap
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 05 Dec 2018
Gender Pay Gap

"I will say a bit more about maternity and paternity pay later, but we absolutely must ensure that it is equally possible for men to take time off work when they become new dads, and that there is a more equal sharing of childcare responsibilities between mums and dads. One …..."
Helen Whately - View Speech

View all Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent) contributions to the debate on: Gender Pay Gap