Urgent question on Thursday, 18 November 2010, in the House of Commons, led by Fiona Mactaggart. The answering member was Baroness Featherstone.

Socio-economic Equality Duty

Secondary information

Type: Parliamentary proceeding
Reference: 518 c1057-8
Session: 2010-12
Department: Women and Equalities
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Proceeding contributions: Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1057-8 (Link to this contribution) Equality is at the heart of what this coalition Government are all about. We have come together as a...; Fiona Mactaggart | 518 c1057-8 (Link to this contribution) (Urgent Question): To ask the Minister to make a statement on the announcement yesterday outside Par...; Dominic Raab | 518 c1062 (Link to this contribution) I welcome the Minister's reply, but will she go further? The Government are consulting on related re...; Geoffrey Clifton-Brown | 518 c1062-3 (Link to this contribution) Does my hon. Friend agree that we heard from the Opposition spokeswoman, the hon. Member for Slough ...; Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1060 (Link to this contribution) As I am sure the hon. Lady knows, the Treasury did an envelope impact assessment on the comprehensiv...; Jake Berry | 518 c1061 (Link to this contribution) The Bill's provisions have been described as ““socialism in one clause””. Does the Minister agree th...; Peter Bone | 518 c1060 (Link to this contribution) I do not know what a socio-economic equality duty is, and nor do the people of Wellingborough. May I...; Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1060 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend is exactly right. It is very surprising.; Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1061 (Link to this contribution) I agree. Delivering equality and fairness is a serious matter, and the idea that one clause would ma...; Greg Hands | 518 c1062 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend is right to focus on specific measures. Does she therefore agree that it would be bet...; Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1060 (Link to this contribution) I appreciate my hon. Friend's direct approach. I probably would not put it in quite such pejorative ...; Chi Onwurah | 518 c1062 (Link to this contribution) All hon. Members are in a position of immense privilege, and it is generally the case that laws and ...; Kate Green | 518 c1060 (Link to this contribution) Perhaps I can help the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone). In the poorest wards in my constitu...; Cathy Jamieson | 518 c1062 (Link to this contribution) I am sorry, but it is rather incredible that the Minister has come here to try to defend the indefen...; Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1061 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Lady makes my point for me. Substantive legislation is extremely important; this was not su...; Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1060 (Link to this contribution) All councils up and down the country that are worth their salt will already be considering the socio...; Glenda Jackson | 518 c1059 (Link to this contribution) If the hon. Lady is so dismissive of legislation, one wonders why she is sitting where she is. May I...; Greg Mulholland | 518 c1061 (Link to this contribution) Does my hon. Friend agree that the Opposition's fixation on socio-economic equality rather than equa...; Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1062 (Link to this contribution) I think the hon. Lady misheard. I did not say that. I said that if we want to make a difference with...; Anne Begg | 518 c1061 (Link to this contribution) For decades, disabled people were told that equality would come through education and changing attit...; Speaker | 518 c1062-3 (Link to this contribution) Order. The hon. Gentleman is getting a little carried away, which is not an uncommon phenomenon in t...; Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1061 (Link to this contribution) That is a charming, but inaccurate description.; Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1062 (Link to this contribution) Yes, obviously.; David Winnick | 518 c1061 (Link to this contribution) I am rather pleased by what the Minister has said, because it demonstrates beyond any shadow of a do...; Speaker | 518 c1062 (Link to this contribution) Order. That question suffers from the disadvantage that it has absolutely nothing whatever to do wit...; Emma Reynolds | 518 c1060 (Link to this contribution) The Government's dilution of the previous Government's equality legislation is just one of a series ...; Sarah Newton | 518 c1059 (Link to this contribution) The most disadvantaged children, like all children, need time with their parents to thrive and prosp...; Fiona Mactaggart | 518 c1058-9 (Link to this contribution) It is very disappointing that I had to ask the Minister to come here. I would have expected at least...; Harriett Baldwin | 518 c1060 (Link to this contribution) Is the Minister as surprised as I am to hear what is being said by Opposition Members who, in debate...; Bridget Phillipson | 518 c1062 (Link to this contribution) The Minister came to the Chamber and said that the duty was ““weak”” and a ““gesture””, and that sub...; Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1059 (Link to this contribution) ... That is such a shame, Mr Speaker, but I will restrain myself. Of course legislation is importan...; Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1058-9 (Link to this contribution) After 13 years of a Labour Government who left behind them a more unequal society with a widening ga...; Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1061 (Link to this contribution) I agree. That is the whole point. That is why I called the duty weak and why Lord Lester from the ot...; Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1059 (Link to this contribution) Of course, the right for all employees to request flexible working is a hugely important step and ex...; Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1062 (Link to this contribution) Because it is meaningless. If I thought that the requirement would deliver anything, I would impleme...; John Howell | 518 c1061 (Link to this contribution) Does my hon. Friend recall that I, too, was a member of the Committee that considered the Equalities...; Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1061 (Link to this contribution) I could not agree more. It is to the shame of the Labour Government that, after 13 years, they left ...; Baroness Featherstone | 518 c1062 (Link to this contribution) It is totally defensible. Listening to Opposition Members, I must say that they are re-enacting what...
Subjects: Access Disadvantaged Equality Public appointments Public sector Public bodies Social class
Legislation: Equality Act 2010
Link: View this Parliamentary proceeding on www.publications.parliament.uk

Socio-economic Equality Duty

Secondary information

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