Maria Miller

The UK Youth Delegate to the UN Commission on the Status of Women was not appointed through a selection process. The delegate was male. This was a trial appointment and we are currently evaluating the success of this initiative.

The Minister for Women and Equalities has overall responsibility for the Government’s participation in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), supported by ministers across government particularly those from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

For the first time, in 2023, the Government appointed a young person as a UN Women Youth Delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women. This was a trial appointment and we are currently evaluating the success of this initiative.

The priority theme for CSW68 is Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective. The Government will continue to promote gender equality internationally at CSW and elsewhere in line with the priorities set out in the International women and girls strategy 2023 to 2030 published in March.

The Minister for Women and Equalities has overall responsibility for the Government’s participation in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), supported by ministers across government particularly those from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

For the first time, in 2023, the Government appointed a young person as a UN Women Youth Delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women. This was a trial appointment and we are currently evaluating the success of this initiative.

The priority theme for CSW68 is Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective. The Government will continue to promote gender equality internationally at CSW and elsewhere in line with the priorities set out in the International women and girls strategy 2023 to 2030 published in March.

The Minister for Women and Equalities has overall responsibility for the Government’s participation in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), supported by ministers across government particularly those from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

For the first time, in 2023, the Government appointed a young person as a UN Women Youth Delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women. This was a trial appointment and we are currently evaluating the success of this initiative.

The priority theme for CSW68 is Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective. The Government will continue to promote gender equality internationally at CSW and elsewhere in line with the priorities set out in the International women and girls strategy 2023 to 2030 published in March.

The Minister for Women and Equalities has overall responsibility for the Government’s participation in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), supported by ministers across government particularly those from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

For the first time, in 2023, the Government appointed a young person as a UN Women Youth Delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women. This was a trial appointment and we are currently evaluating the success of this initiative.

The priority theme for CSW68 is Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective. The Government will continue to promote gender equality internationally at CSW and elsewhere in line with the priorities set out in the International women and girls strategy 2023 to 2030 published in March.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not collect specific data on suspects referred to the CPS for a charging decision where the sending of sexually explicit images of children is alleged. However, data is available to indicate the number of offences charged, in which a prosecution commenced at magistrates’ courts, for offences of involving indecent images of children.

The two main offence provisions for the prosecution of offences relating to indecent images of children are section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1978 (making, distributing, showing or advertising indecent images of children) and section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (possession of indecent images of children).

The table below sets out the number of offences charged by way of the above legislation, in each of the last three years, in England and Wales.

Data Source: CPS Management Information System

It is not possible to disaggregate offences which relate to indecent images sent by way of an electronic device as opposed to other indecent image offences, cases where a conviction was obtained or the age of the perpetrator without reviewing individual case files incurring disproportionate cost.

The Government has published guidance on the use of confidentiality clauses and is clear that these types of clauses should not be used to stifle or discourage staff from raising concerns, and that they should only be used when necessary and not be included in settlement agreements as a matter of course.

All Government departments are expected to follow this guidance which can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-settlement-agreements-special-severance-payments-and-confidentiality-clauses.

The Government has published guidance on the use of confidentiality clauses and is clear that these types of clauses should not be used to stifle or discourage staff from raising concerns, and that they should only be used when necessary and not be included in settlement agreements as a matter of course.

All Government departments are expected to follow this guidance which can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-settlement-agreements-special-severance-payments-and-confidentiality-clauses.

During the pandemic, up to 47% of the workforce have worked from home. While this is not the only form of flexible working, we hope this will have a positive impact on attitudes towards greater flexibility in when and where work is done. We will build on this as we look to make flexible working the default.

The review is underway, and we plan to publish a consultation in due course.

Since January 2013, criminal proceedings have been instituted by the Department against one person for two offences under s1112 Companies Act 2006. A guilty plea was entered to one offence and the second was withdrawn.

The Government was responding to a recommendation about protection from redundancy. In the response to the Matthew Taylor Review of modern working practices, the Government committed to review the legislation relating to redundancy protection and consider whether this is sufficient. This work is underway.

The number of cases of maternity discrimination taken to employment tribunals can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics. The data for the last five years is as follows:

Number of receipts (claims):

Financial Year Suffer a detriment/unfair dismissal maternity

• 2013/14 - 1,248
• 2014/15 - 790
• 2015/16 - 865
• 2016/17 - 872
• 2017/18 - 1,336

Number of disposals (cases closed):

Financial Year Suffer a detriment/unfair dismissal maternity

• 2013/14 - 1,426
• 2014/15 - 955
• 2015/16 - 856
• 2016/17 - 779
• 2017/18 - 930

The Government has noted with interest the findings of this report, and particularly that children were as likely to see pornographic content online inadvertently as they were to seek it out deliberately. This further strengthens the case for the action the Government is taking on the manifesto commitment to require age verification controls for access to online pornography, which will make it harder for children to access this content online. Our preferred approach was set out in our consultation published in February this year. Government is currently finalising our response to this consultation

The Department for Education is currently in the process of commissioning the study referred to which is expected to be completed by the end of March 2017. Findings will be published at a later date.

Education can play a vital role in helping young people understand healthy relationships and identify those which are unhealthy. It can also give young people the confidence and knowledge they need to stay safe and respect others. Sex and relationships education (SRE) must be taught in all maintained secondary schools and we expect academies to teach it as part of a broad and balanced curriculum.

Schools can also choose to teach about the impact of pornography in their Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) lessons drawing on the guidance and resources available. The PSHE Association has produced a non-statutory programme of study as guidance for teachers, which includes teaching about the impact of pornography. The Government publishes guidance for schools teaching SRE, which is available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/283599/sex_and_relationship_education_guidance.pdf.

The guidance makes clear that all SRE should be age-appropriate, and that schools should make sure young people develop positive values and a moral framework that will guide their decisions, judgments and behaviour. This is particularly relevant to sexual consent, and the guidance makes clear that all young people should understand how the law applies to sexual relationships. The guidance covers the importance of marriage, loving and stable relationships, consent and how to avoid exploitation and abuse.

The Government has made it clear in the introduction to the framework to the national curriculum that all schools should teach PSHE and we are working to ensure that all young people receive high quality, age-appropriate PSHE and SRE.

The Department for Education collects information from local authorities on the number of school places in state-funded primary and secondary schools as part of the annual School Capacity Collection. The most recent data available relates to the position at May 2013 and is published online at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-capacity-academic-year-2012-to-2013

Equivalent data for 2010 can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-capacity-2009-to-2010-final

Data to May 2014 will become available shortly.

A comparison of the position in 2010 and 2013, showing the net change in capacity, is given in the table below. Positive figures indicate an overall increase in places; negative figures indicate an overall decrease in places. A decrease in places can be the consequence of actions to address oversupply and remove unsuitable place provision, or of restructuring the school system. Figures for local authorities that have restructured middle school provision or introduced all-through provision between 2010 and 2013 must be compared with caution.

The Department does not collect capacity data at constituency level; Basingstoke constituency lies within Hampshire local authority.

Source: School Capacity Survey 2010 and 2013

This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw. A copy of his reply will be placed in the library of the House.

The Department for Education does not collect data on incidents of sexting among pupils. All schools in England are required, by law, to have a behaviour policy which includes measures to tackle bullying, including cyberbullying which covers sexting. We have not produced specific advice on sexting but we have issued clear and succinct advice to schools on preventing and tackling bullying, including cyberbullying. This information is published online at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying

Certain instances of bullying, harassment and threatening behaviour, including the sharing of indecent images should be reported to the police. This is made clear in our advice to schools. Good schools create an ethos where bullying, including cyberbullying and sexting do not happen in the first place, and they deal with it promptly if it does occur to ensure the victim does not suffer continuing distress.

From September 2014, e-safety is being taught at all four key stages of the curriculum in England. It covers responsible, respectful and secure use of technology, as well as ensuring that pupils are taught age-appropriate ways of reporting any concerns they may have about what they see or encounter online.

Children and young people are being taught about the different and escalating risks they may encounter as they get older (initially relating to online content, then to the conduct of and contact with others, which can include sexting).

Schools can help to contain cyber-bullying and sexting during the school day by banning or limiting the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices. Search powers included in the Education Act 2011 have given teachers the power to search for, and if necessary delete, inappropriate images (or files) on electronic devices, including mobile phones.

Ofsted now holds schools clearly to account for how well they deal with behaviour and bullying. Since January 2012, inspectors must consider pupils’ freedom from bullying, including cyberbullying, harassment and discrimination. In January 2014, Ofsted produced briefing for inspectors when considering e-safety in schools. This makes clear that school inspectors should consider the schools’ ability to protect and educate pupils in their use of technology.

Defra provides guidance to farmers and other land managers on the management of arable field margins as part of agri-environment schemes such as Environmental Stewardship. The new Countryside Stewardship scheme will continue and enhance this guidance.

Farmers not wanting to sign up to an agri-environment scheme can obtain advice from a variety of sources, including the Campaign for the Farmed Environment.

The penalty for felling a tree without the authority of a felling licence is prescribed by section 17 of the Forestry Act 1967. A person guilty of this offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale or twice the sum which appears to the court to be the value of the tree, whichever is the higher. The standard scale of fines was introduced into the Forestry Act by the Criminal Justice Act 1982.

Changes to the standard scale are made the Ministry of Justice and apply uniformly across all offences using the standard scale. The level 4 fine maximum at present is £2,500.

Since 1982, the standard scale has been revised as follows:

Neither Defra nor the Environment Agency has issued guidance on the meaning of Best Available Technology to remove phosphates from sewage.

In order to meet the Environmental Quality Standards required by the Water Framework Directive, the Environment Agency sets permit limits for sewage discharge works. The appropriate technology employed to achieve those permit limits is a matter for the operator and is not specified by the Environment Agency.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 September 2014, Official Report, columns 601W – 602W.

It is for the European Commission, in its role as guardian of the Treaties, to oversee the application of European Union law and institute infraction proceedings where it considers such action appropriate.

The standards which apply under the Water Framework Directive are set out in Directions from the Secretary of State to the Environment Agency. These standards are used by the Environment Agency in drawing up objectives for all water bodies in river basin management plans. These plans are then approved by the Secretary of State. All public bodies have a duty to have regard to these plans and the Environment Agency must exercise its functions to achieve the plans’ objectives.