Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kemi Badenoch and Jo Gideon

Thursday 25th January 2024 Commons Chamber

[Kemi Badenoch]

I believe that this might be an issue for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, but if the hon. Lady will write to me, we can look at that specific case.

[Jo Gideon (Stoke-on-Trent Central) (Con)]

I am grateful to the Minister for working with me on the issue of button battery safety, and grateful for the ongoing commitment of the five working groups that were set up in 2022 following the tragic death of one of my constituents, Harper-Lee Fanthorpe, and the campaign for Harper-Lee’s law. Will the Minister meet me to discuss progress, and, in particular, how the guidelines drawn up by the Office for Product Safety and Standards can be made compulsory so that more deaths and injuries from button battery ingestion can be prevented?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kemi Badenoch and Jo Gideon

Wednesday 26th April 2023 Commons Chamber

[Kemi Badenoch]

The hon. Lady will know that we are supporting the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill. That private Member’s Bill will deliver changes, including requiring employers to consult with an employee, as a means of exploring alternative options, before rejecting a request for flexible working; and enabling employees to make two flexible working requests a year—up from one—and receive faster decisions on their requests. Employees will no longer be required to explain the impact of their requests for flexible working arrangements on the employer. We think that will go a long way to resolve the issues around flexible working.

[Jo Gideon (Stoke-on-Trent Central) (Con)]

Campaigners are highlighting the twin impacts of the gender pay gap and the cost of living crisis on women. What support is my right hon. Friend giving to women who are struggling financially?

[Kemi Badenoch]

My hon. Friend will know that the support we provide is based on need and not protected characteristics, so the decisive action we have taken has been to support households across the UK, while remaining fiscally responsible. We are delivering the largest ever increase in the national living wage, benefiting more than 2 million people—disproportionately women—and prioritising support for the most vulnerable families, increasing benefits in line with inflation, so that more than 10 million working-age families see an increase in their benefit payments.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kemi Badenoch and Jo Gideon

Thursday 23rd March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Kemi Badenoch]

I would be happy for either officials or a Minister in my Department, depending on diaries, to have a meeting with the APPG. It is a sector that we want to support, and we will do all we can to demonstrate that.

[Jo Gideon (Stoke-on-Trent Central) (Con)]

17. What steps her Department is taking to help support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kemi Badenoch and Jo Gideon

Tuesday 7th July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Jo Gideon (Stoke-on-Trent Central) (Con)]

What fiscal steps he is taking to support the charity sector during the covid-19 outbreak.

[The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Kemi Badenoch)]

Alongside unprecedented support for individuals and businesses in the light of the covid-19 outbreak, the Government have announced a £750 million support package for charities, £360 million of which will be allocated directly to charities providing essential services and £200 million will go to local charities through the National Lottery Community Fund.

[Jo Gideon]

I thank the Minister for that answer and for the support that enabled charities to develop new ways of working during lockdown. Will the Minister outline how this Government’s support has helped my constituents in Stoke-on-Trent Central?

[Kemi Badenoch]

My hon. Friend is right to highlight the extraordinary innovations of charities in Stoke-on-Trent and across the country. We have seen innovation and adaptation right across the economy, made possible in part by the unprecedented level of support that we have been referring to during this session. As of the end of last week, £230 million had been disbursed from the Government’s charity support fund.

Public Health England Review: Covid-19 Disparities

Debate between Kemi Badenoch and Jo Gideon

Thursday 4th June 2020 Commons Chamber

[Jo Gideon (Stoke-on-Trent Central) (Con)]

The report identifies death rates in the most deprived areas as being more than double those in the least deprived. Does the Minister agree that growing capacity in community development is essential in ensuring equality of opportunity and levelling up in cities such as Stoke-on-Trent?

[Kemi Badenoch]

Yes, I do agree with my hon. Friend. I do not think there is anything further to add. Levelling up is a priority for the Government, and I will never get tired of saying that. It is not something that I look at just in my equalities role, but also in my Treasury role, and I look forward to working with her on those issues.