To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account promotion boards in his Department take of language and area expertise when assessing staff for promotion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account promotion boards in his Department take of language and area expertise when assessing staff for promotion.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on social mobility.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on social mobility.

My hon. Friend has done far more than she has said, and has produced a book, ““If Chloe Can””, a careers book to help inspire people. It was turned into a theatre production, which is now touring the country, and I and several of our hon. Friends went to the...

My hon. Friend has done far more than she has said, and has produced a book, ““If Chloe Can””, a careers book to help inspire people. It was turned into a theatre production, which is now touring the country, and I and several of our hon. Friends went to the...

It is a pleasure to bring this debate to the House today and to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Leigh. Social mobility, the advancement of the individual irrespective of birth, gender, colour or class, was the underlying reason I entered politics. My inspiration for that was not so much politicians,...

It is a pleasure to bring this debate to the House today and to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Leigh. Social mobility, the advancement of the individual irrespective of birth, gender, colour or class, was the underlying reason I entered politics. My inspiration for that was not so much politicians,...

I do indeed believe that self confidence is crucial. In fact, I led a debate on confidence for girls in particular. There is a lot of evidence, both academic and from Ofsted, that we need to encourage that, which is why I am so impressed with our national citizenship service...

I do indeed believe that self confidence is crucial. In fact, I led a debate on confidence for girls in particular. There is a lot of evidence, both academic and from Ofsted, that we need to encourage that, which is why I am so impressed with our national citizenship service...

My hon. Friend makes a strong point. That was one of the key things that came up when I went round schools on Merseyside, asking children what they needed to know, and what answers they wanted. Some asked, ““How did you ever know what you wanted to become?”” or ““How...

My hon. Friend makes a strong point. That was one of the key things that came up when I went round schools on Merseyside, asking children what they needed to know, and what answers they wanted. Some asked, ““How did you ever know what you wanted to become?”” or ““How...

I, too, congratulate my hon. Friend on bringing the debate to the House. Does she agree that more effort needs to be put into boosting self-confidence and self-esteem in children? As she knows, those are prerequisites for mobility, success, and the goal that she is describing. Assuming that the importance...

I, too, congratulate my hon. Friend on bringing the debate to the House. Does she agree that more effort needs to be put into boosting self-confidence and self-esteem in children? As she knows, those are prerequisites for mobility, success, and the goal that she is describing. Assuming that the importance...

I congratulate the hon. Lady on bringing this matter to the House. I hope she will comment on social mobility for people who are disabled, and on the need for public transport to enable them to go where they want to be. Does she agree, and will she comment?

I congratulate the hon. Lady on bringing this matter to the House. I hope she will comment on social mobility for people who are disabled, and on the need for public transport to enable them to go where they want to be. Does she agree, and will she comment?

I will make one comment, because I worked with people who were able-bodied, and with others who were not so able-bodied. One in particular who was a huge inspiration to me was a young girl called Shelly Woods, who I hope will get an Olympic gold in the Paralympics. She...

I will make one comment, because I worked with people who were able-bodied, and with others who were not so able-bodied. One in particular who was a huge inspiration to me was a young girl called Shelly Woods, who I hope will get an Olympic gold in the Paralympics. She...

I know that my hon. Friend is a doughty fighter on this subject. Does she remember from our conversations after her ““Workhouse to Westminster”” paper that I too can claim to have descended from people who were in a workhouse? On the issue of the E-bac, she is right to...

I know that my hon. Friend is a doughty fighter on this subject. Does she remember from our conversations after her ““Workhouse to Westminster”” paper that I too can claim to have descended from people who were in a workhouse? On the issue of the E-bac, she is right to...

I totally agree with my hon. Friend. We must ensure that we give those children the support that they need. I am delighted with the new university technical colleges that Lord Baker, Lord Adonis and Peter Mitchell are fighting for because they could provide people with a startling difference in...

I totally agree with my hon. Friend. We must ensure that we give those children the support that they need. I am delighted with the new university technical colleges that Lord Baker, Lord Adonis and Peter Mitchell are fighting for because they could provide people with a startling difference in...

Does my hon. Friend agree that even beyond the 120,000 most troubled families throughout our society, the gap between rich and poor appears by the age three, which puts into sharp relief the need for support for parenting in the family?

Does my hon. Friend agree that even beyond the 120,000 most troubled families throughout our society, the gap between rich and poor appears by the age three, which puts into sharp relief the need for support for parenting in the family?

I totally agree with my hon. Friend. The coalition Government are right to introduce new nursery care for toddlers. There will be 15 hours of free early education a week for all two-year-olds from poor homes, which will help 240,000 disadvantaged children. The pupil premium for disadvantaged children in England's...

I totally agree with my hon. Friend. The coalition Government are right to introduce new nursery care for toddlers. There will be 15 hours of free early education a week for all two-year-olds from poor homes, which will help 240,000 disadvantaged children. The pupil premium for disadvantaged children in England's...

Thank you, Mr Leigh, for pointing that out. I am just about to come to my questions. I want to know about our communication strategy. How are we going to reach out to the kids whom we want to help and support, not just to the people who are already...

Thank you, Mr Leigh, for pointing that out. I am just about to come to my questions. I want to know about our communication strategy. How are we going to reach out to the kids whom we want to help and support, not just to the people who are already...

Thank you, Mr Leigh, for protecting the Government's interests by giving me an opportunity to respond to the large number of extremely pertinent questions asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral West (Esther McVey). We all know how committed she personally is to the cause of social mobility....

Thank you, Mr Leigh, for protecting the Government's interests by giving me an opportunity to respond to the large number of extremely pertinent questions asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral West (Esther McVey). We all know how committed she personally is to the cause of social mobility....

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the effect of proposed changes to legal aid on the short and long-term career prospects of barristers called to the Bar in the past five years, and the likely effect on the age, ethnic and gender mix of the Bar.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the effect of proposed changes to legal aid on the short and long-term career prospects of barristers called to the Bar in the past five years, and the likely effect on the age, ethnic and gender mix of the Bar.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government since when the Government have offered a career in ministerial private office; and how this fits in with posting in private office being part of career development for civil servants.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government since when the Government have offered a career in ministerial private office; and how this fits in with posting in private office being part of career development for civil servants.

Statement on phone hacking.

Statement on phone hacking.

Lords statement on phone hacking.

Lords statement on phone hacking.