My right hon. Friend the Minister for Women and Equalities has frequent discussions with cabinet colleagues on a range of equalities matters.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Department for Health and Social Care lead on policy relating to the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is that there may be considerable benefit in offering the HPV to other individuals who have a similar risk profile to that of the men who have sex with men (MSM) population attending Specialist Sexual Health Services and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinics. This wider range includes some MSM aged over 45 years, sex workers, HIV positive women, and HIV positive men.<\/p>
<\/p>
Clinicians are able to offer vaccinations outside of the national programme using individual clinical judgement, and HPV vaccination could therefore be considered for such individuals on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-23T11:36:03.473Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the provision of the HPV vaccine at sexual health clinics.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "259224"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1123163", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1123163/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Sexual harassment is completely unacceptable - both inside and outside the workplace - and unlawful under the Equality Act 2010 and Protection from Harassment Act 1997.<\/p>
<\/p>
We are working with the Equality and Human Rights Commission on a new statutory code of practice on sexual harassment, due this year. This will help all employers better understand the law on this issue, and should enable them to better identify and prevent sexual harassment.<\/p>
<\/p>
We are also helping Acas update the guidance it provides on sexual harassment in the workplace.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-05-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-05-09T09:50:13.45Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment: Bullying"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what support the Government is providing to small businesses to promote awareness of what constitutes workplace harassment; and what steps she is taking to help small businesses tackle such harassment.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "247711"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1088823", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1088823/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Minister for Women and Equalities has had discussions on ending period poverty and stigma with a number of Ministerial colleagues including the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Mental Health, Inequalities and Suicide Prevention. A new government-backed Taskforce on Period Poverty was announced by the Minister for Women and Equalities on 4th<\/sup> March to build on existing initiatives and develop ideas for a comprehensive, sustainable response in the UK. It will convene the public, private and third sectors, including representatives from the Department of Health and Social Care and grassroots organisations.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-21T16:57:17.373Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sanitary Products"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on providing sanitary products free of charge in community health centres.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "232570"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1077126", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1077126/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We believe that listing specific conditions would not help people with hard to diagnose illnesses (as is currently often the case with fibromyalgia), as doing so would make protection dependent upon a successful diagnosis rather than the immediate impact of the illness on a person\u2019s life.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The Equality Act 2010 is the principal means through which disabled people are protected from discrimination in Great Britain but does not, except in a few specific instances, specify conditions that may fall within the definition of disability. This is because in most cases, it is the impact on the person\u2019s life that is the qualifying criteria rather than the condition itself.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The definition set out in the Act means that any person with a physical or mental impairment that falls within this definition will already be protected as having a disability, which may apply to many of those with fibromyalgia.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-04T16:04:05.547Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-02-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Fibromyalgia"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether he has plans to classify fibromyalgia as a disability.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "225510"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1037787", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1037787/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The government launched a £1.5 million grant fund in the private sector to support people to return to work. Our grant fund is enabling charities and other organisations to launch projects for people who are currently out of work due to caring responsibilities and want to return to permanent employment. Home-Start have previously applied for this GEO funding.<\/p> <\/p> We have recently announced further funding to support those with additional barriers to participating in the labour market \u2013 including people who speak little English, people with disabilities, and those who are homeless or have been victims of domestic abuse. GEO is scoping how best to deliver this and will engage closely with HMT in advance of the next spending review to decide whether and how further funding should be allocated to helping people return to work.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-15T17:39:41.67Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what representations she has received on the work of (a) Home Start and (b) other charities providing support for young families and carers; and if she will discuss with the Chancellor of the Exchequer the provision of additional funding for those charities to enable more help to be given to people returning to work.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "206356"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1037121", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1037121/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government wants to make sure that all women have the freedom and opportunity to reach their full potential. This of course includes women from more marginalised or vulnerable groups such as those who have suffered from abuse.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The Minister for Women and Equalities recently announced £500k of funding to support people with multiple and potentially complex barriers to returning to work, including victims of domestic abuse. This funding will be available for charities and other types of organisations to provide support in the form of training or employment opportunities.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> GEO is scoping how best to deliver this programme and will be working closely with delivery partners to publicise how organisations can apply for this funding in the near future.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-16T15:53:50.96Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Domestic Abuse"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will allocate additional funds to charities supporting abused women to gain (a) employment and (b) training.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "205927"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1037122", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1037122/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The best independent evidence shows that routine screening of women under 25 actually does more harm than good. Cervical cancer in women under the age of 25 is very rare and younger women often undergo natural and harmless changes in the cervix that screening would identify as abnormalities, resulting in many false negatives.<\/p> We offer vaccination to girls to protect against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which protects against 70 per cent of cervical cancers and which is expected to reduce the already low rates of cervical cancer in these young women and allow them to be protected for years to come.<\/p> Young women with symptoms of cervical cancer, largely unusual bleeding particularly after sex, should see their GP and be referred to a gynecologist if clinically appropriate.<\/p> My Rt Hon Friend the Minister for Women and Equalities has no plans to discuss this issue with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.<\/em><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-15T17:39:22.723Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cervical Cancer: Screening"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Health on making the NHS cervical screening programme available to women aged 18 years and over.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "205928"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1027212", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1027212/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Everyone in the UK should have the opportunity to progress and fulfil their potential in employment, to benefit both the individual and the wider economy. Despite accounting for just under half of all employees in the UK, women are more likely to be in low paid work than men.<\/p> The Government has an aspiration to end low pay, and next year it will set out the Low Pay Commission\u2019s remit from 2020 onwards.<\/p> The National Living Wage (NLW) benefits a higher proportion of women than men. In April 2019, the NLW will increase by 4.9% to £8.21. This is an increase to a full-time minimum wage worker\u2019s annual earnings of over £690, making progress on the government\u2019s objective for the NLW to reach 60% of median earnings by 2020.<\/p> We will be publishing a strategy in the Spring on gender equality and economic empowerment that will include consideration of how we can best support low paid women.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-20T16:03:50.237Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Equal Pay"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to tackle low pay for women.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "202723"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1007895", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1007895/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " It is for the devolved administrations to decide whether, and how, they choose to mark the centenary.<\/p> The Northern Ireland Executive was provided £171,000. In the absence of Ministerial authority for grants to local groups, the civil service arranged a lecture series, a commemorative album as well as a number of exhibitions and workshops.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-22T16:07:13.223Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Candidates: Females"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if her Department will take steps to help hold events in Northern Ireland to mark the 100th anniversary of women being allowed to stand for Parliament.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "191924"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1007896", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1007896/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Under new government legislation over 10,000 employers reported their gender pay gaps this year. These regulations increase transparency, driving board level discussions and pushing employers to take real action to close the gap.<\/p> We are now working with employers to help them understand their gender pay gaps, and support them to put plans in place to tackle gaps.<\/p> Mandatory gender pay gap reporting is just one of the steps government has taken to tackle the drivers of the gap including:<\/p>