Wednesday Volume 698 7 July 2021 No. 30 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 7 July 2021 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2021 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 885 7 JULY 2021 886 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education House of Commons (Vicky Ford): Every child, no matter what their background, should have access to world-class education that opens Wednesday 7 July 2021 up opportunities for their future. Our pupil premium is targeted at schools based on the number of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. It has helped to close the The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock attainment gap over the past decade, and it is expected to increase to more than £2.5 billion this year. PRAYERS Peter Aldous: I am most grateful to the Minister for her reply. Early years education plays a key role in [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] supporting children from disadvantaged backgrounds, but there is a concern that the current funding arrangements Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Orders, are skewed against providers operating in deprived areas 4 June and 30 December 2020). such as parts of Lowestoft in my constituency. I have [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] corresponded with her on this issue, and we will hopefully meet shortly, but does she agree it is vital that all children, whatever their background, have ready access to high- quality and properly funded early years education? Will Oral Answers to Questions the Government take steps to ensure this happens? Vicky Ford: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. High- WOMEN AND EQUALITIES quality early years education is important, which is why the Government have invested over £3.5 billion every year for the past three years in supporting education for The Minister for Women and Equalities was asked— two, three and four-year-olds. Our recent education Conversion Therapy: Support for Victims recovery announcement included increased investment in early years teaching. Dr Jamie Wallis (Bridgend) (Con): What steps the I urge my hon. Friend and, indeed, all hon. Members Government are taking to support victims of conversion to encourage families from lower-income backgrounds therapy. [902445] to take up the Government’s generous offer of 15 hours of free childcare for their two-year-olds. Children who The Minister for Women and Equalities (Elizabeth take it up do better at school, and it gives them the vital Truss): Conversion therapy is an abhorrent practice skills that set them up for life. that this Government will ban. We are launching a consultation in September to ensure the action we take Dr Mullan: In light of the recent Education Committee is informed and effective. report,whatistheDepartmentdoingtosupportdisadvantaged white boys? Dr Wallis [V]: Will my right hon. Friend outline what she is doing to promote LGBT safety not just in the UK Vicky Ford: We are considering the recommendations but abroad? of the Select Committee on Education very carefully, and all the evidence shows that high-quality teaching is Elizabeth Truss: I congratulate my hon. Friend on his the single most effective way to improve education campaigning work on this issue. I am proud that we have outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. That is why it is so announced the UK’s first ever global LGBT conference, important that the pupil premium is used to support Safe To Be Me. It will take place in June next year, and it continuing professional development, as well as academic will bring the world together to end persecution, violence programmes and pastoral support. It is also why so and discrimination against LGBT people everywhere. much of our recovery funding is tilted towards top-quality Children from Disadvantaged Backgrounds: Geographic teaching and tutoring for disadvantaged pupils. Equality of Opportunity Ruth Edwards: Given the recent Ofsted report, what Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con): What steps she is steps are the Government taking to make sure that all taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve geographic parts of the country have robust safeguarding measures equality of opportunity for children from disadvantaged in place so that every girl can fulfil her potential in backgrounds. [902446] school without fear of sexual abuse? Dr Kieran Mullan (Crewe and Nantwich) (Con): What Vicky Ford: My hon. Friend is absolutely right—sex steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve abuse is not acceptable. The Government are taking geographic equality of opportunity for children from action through the child sex abuse strategy and the disadvantaged backgrounds. [902452] violence against women and girls strategy, and we have published strengthened guidance for schools on peer-on- Ruth Edwards (Rushcliffe) (Con): What steps she is peer abuse and updated relationships, sex and health taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve geographic education. In addition, we have asked every local safe- equality of opportunity for children from disadvantaged guarding partnership across the country to review how backgrounds. [902456] they work to support schools to tackle this issue. 887 Oral Answers 7 JULY 2021 Oral Answers 888 Pregnancy and Maternity Discrimination Paul Scully: The Minister for Equalities is doing a lot of work in this area, as is our Department of Health Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/Co-op): What and Social Care. Weare committed to reducing inequalities furtherstepssheplanstotaketotacklematernitydiscrimination. in health outcomes,and Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent [902447] OBE, the chief midwifery officer, is leading work to understand why mortality rates are high, consider evidence Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central) (SNP): What steps and bring action together, because this is a complex the Government is taking to tackle pregnancy and situation. It is not just within maternity; it is far more maternity discrimination in the labour market. [902448] holistic than that, for instance on whether people are accessing health services in the first place, and with the The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, fact that we had some of the highest rates in the EU of EnergyandIndustrialStrategy(PaulScully):TheGovernment obesity and underweight issues going into maternity recognise the importance of tackling pregnancy and and the highest rates of smoking in pregnancy in the maternity discrimination, which is why we will extend EU—indeed, our level is even higher than America’s. the redundancy protection period for six months once a new mother has returned to work and provide similar Charlotte Nichols (Warrington North) (Lab): Research protections for those parents taking adoption leave and from the TUC has found that one in four pregnant shared parental leave. We will bring these measures women and new mums experienced unfair treatment or forward as soon as parliamentary time allows. discrimination at work during the pandemic, including being singled out for redundancy or furlough. The imminent Gareth Thomas: As a devastating Equality and Human tapering off of furlough prompts serious concern about Rights Commission report highlighted some five years unequal redundancies. Will the Minister follow Labour’s ago, and certainly given the experience of too many of lead and, instead of the Government simply extending my constituents, discrimination against pregnant women their ineffective and complicated laws, make things simpler and new mothers is still widespread. When will the and more robust for mothers and businesses alike by Government actually get their act together and bring in introducing a German-style ban on making a pregnant the legislation they have promised to stop employers making woman or new mother redundant from notification of women redundant during pregnancy, and until at least pregnancy to six months after they return to work? six months after they have returned from maternity leave? Paul Scully: The hon. Gentleman makes an important Paul Scully: We believe that extending the MAPLE— point, but legislation can only ever be part of the Maternity and Parental Leave etc. Regulations 1999— answer, which is why we have committed to bring together provisions is a better way of doing it that goes with the key business and family representative groups to tackle grain of the tribunal system that we have within this the questions on organisational culture and to ensure country. That is why, after due consideration, we will be that women and employers know their rights. We will bringing that forward as soon as parliamentary time allows. introduce legislative measures when parliamentary time allows. Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) (SNP) [V]: Maternity Action highlights the fact that pregnant women and Alison Thewliss [V]: EHRC research in 2016 found new mothers cannot devote their energy and finances to disturbingly high levels of pregnancy and maternity pursuing employment tribunal claims. The Minister discrimination in UK workplaces,and the Select Committee says he wants to take steps to understand, but I can tell on Women and Equalities report highlighted that him that the thousands of women who have lost wages, discriminatory practices towards pregnant women and entitlements or their job because of the pandemic, or those on maternity leave during the pandemic should the more who will unfortunately follow, need effective have been access now to justice and more time to enforce their “better