Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mary Robinson and Jackie Doyle-Price

Tuesday 26th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mary Robinson (Cheadle) (Con)]

11. What steps he is taking to tackle cervical cancer.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Jackie Doyle-Price)]

We have some of the highest HPV—human papillomavirus—vaccination rates in the world. This month we launched a major new national campaign to increase the number of women attending cervical screening across England, and throughout the NHS long-term plan we have committed to radically overhaul screening programmes and further invest in the latest technology to transform diagnosis and boost research and innovation.

[Mary Robinson]

Figures from Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust show that 200,000 women in Greater Manchester have missed their smear test, including half of women aged 25 to 29, yet we know that smear tests save lives. What are the Government doing to raise awareness of the importance of attending screening to prevent cervical cancer?

[Jackie Doyle-Price]

My hon. Friend is right: cervical screening saves up to 5,000 lives every year, so we cannot do enough to encourage women to take advantage of the screening. It is not the most pleasant experience to go through, but it can save lives. I would encourage everyone to take advantage of the screening, and we will continue to do our best to promote it.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mary Robinson and Jackie Doyle-Price

Thursday 15th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Jackie Doyle-Price)]

The hon. Lady raises an important point. We know that quite often the care given to female offenders in prison does fall short, and I will look at the specific issue that she raises. Clearly, we need to ensure that the best maternity support is given to them.

[Mary Robinson (Cheadle) (Con)]

T3. There are now more than 1 million women-led small and medium-sized businesses in the UK—women such as my constituent Erin Rodgers, who set up Our Little Globe, an educational subscription box that aims to teach young children about the world and the people in it. New businesses such as Erin’s need financial support in the initial stages to grow. Will my hon. Friend outline what support is available for women wanting to start their own businesses?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mary Robinson and Jackie Doyle-Price

Tuesday 24th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mary Robinson (Cheadle) (Con)]

19. What steps his Department is taking to help protect children’s mental health from the harmful effects of social media.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Jackie Doyle-Price)]

Our chief medical officer is leading a systematic review of international research to improve our understanding of social media use and children’s mental health. We are also working with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to consider what more can be done to reduce potential harm to children’s mental health from social media. This is being done through the Government’s upcoming internet harms White Paper, which is due later this year.

[Mary Robinson]

The longer people spend online, the more likely they are to experience cyber-bullying. Research by Childline, a service of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, shows that the number of young people seeking counselling as a result of online bullying has increased by 88% in just five years. What are the Government doing to improve research on this issue and to better understand the potential harms?

[Jackie Doyle-Price]

My hon. Friend is right to highlight this, but it is worth bearing in mind that there are also positive effects from engagement on social media. The relationship between social media use and its impact on mental health is not conclusive. That is why the chief medical officer is carrying out a review of all the evidence in this area, so that we can understand and shape future policy. That report will be due next year.