The \u2018Burnt Out Britain\u2019 Onward report raises a number of important issues, particularly in relation to the ways in which modern life has a disproportionate impact on women. The report highlights areas of particular concern to women including pay disparities and more time spent on domestic tasks and childcare (in comparison to men). It attributes overarching issues regarding the pace of modern lifestyles to digital technology and different choices that people make with regards to employment and domestic arrangements. The report also recognises that, while Government does have a part to play in responding to and tackling particular aspects of these issues, this is a limited role in many cases.<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p> Government is committed to enabling all women to thrive and to reach their full potential, which is why steps have been taken to ensure that all parents are able to balance work and family life.<\/p> <\/strong><\/p> Actions include:<\/p> Over £3.5 billion in each of the past 3 years on our early education entitlements to support families with the cost of childcare. At this year\u2019s Budget, the Chancellor announced that by 2027-28, this Government will expect to be spending in excess of £8bn every year on free hours and early education. This represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> <\/strong><\/p> Shared parental leave and pay, so that both parents can be part of those crucial early years. Our online tool is now making it easier for parents to check if they are eligible for leave and pay, and plan their leave and pay.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> <\/strong><\/p> Making it easier for everyone to access flexible working. We have committed to give all employees the right to request flexible working from their first day of employment, through support for the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Private Members\u2019 Bill. This will ensure that an additional estimated 2.2 million people will be able to request changes to the hours, times, or place of work; so that they can also have more control over their free time.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> <\/strong><\/p> The Government\u2019s Women\u2019s Health Strategy, published last year, set out our 10 year ambitions for boosting the care of women and girls. One of the priority areas identified by the strategy was mental health and wellbeing, with the report outlining how the Government will ensure delivery partners are equipped to develop tailored plans and interventions that meet the needs of different groups.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> <\/strong><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4553", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook"}
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, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-06-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-06-05T15:54:30.2Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-05-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report Burnt Out Britain published by the think tank Onward on 3 April, regarding (1) gender disparities in time spent on childcare, (2) gender disparities in time spent on housework, (3) the fragmentation of free time, and (4) the effect of the foregoing on the mental health of Britons.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1543076", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1543076/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) provides for protection of disabled people, including those needing assistance dogs, in employment and the supply of goods, services, public functions and in clubs and associations. It does not have universal application to the public, or in other settings, and general public education campaigns about it would not be proportionate. However, the Government runs under contract the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), an equalities and human rights helpline, which receives about 35,000 customer contacts a year, more than 60% of which concern disability issues. The EASS can intervene directly with or assist the complainant to take the problem up with the relevant service provider in many cases, including those involving assistance dogs.<\/p> It is the responsibility of all businesses to ensure that they are aware of their obligations to their customers and employees under the Act. To help them in this, Government and relevant independent bodies offer a range of technical guidance and statutory codes of practice that clearly explain what businesses should and should not do to ensure that their conduct is lawful and not discriminatory.<\/p> The Act places a duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve disabled people\u2019s access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. This reasonable adjustment duty is an anticipatory duty therefore those who provide goods, facilities and services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require, including auxiliary aids.<\/p> The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is the public body responsible for enforcing the Act. In 2017, the EHRC published two pieces of guidance - a guide to help businesses understand what they can do to meet their legal duties to assistance dog owners, and a guide to help tourism businesses welcome people with access requirements. The EHRC supports disabled individuals who have experienced discrimination to take their cases to court.<\/p> In recent years, case law has strengthened the equalities law for people with assistance dogs. There have been a number of significant cases brought under the Equality Act involving assistance dogs, which have been successfully litigated, for example, Bloch v Kassim (assistance dogs in taxis); Clutton and Williams v Pen-y-Bryn Group (assistance dogs in restaurants); and McCafferty v Miah (assistance dogs in shops).<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4174", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott"}
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, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-11-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-11-30T15:31:06.923Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Guide Dogs"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to educate the public about the legal status of guide dogs for the blind and other assistance dogs; and what steps they plan to take to penalise businesses which have failed to educate their staff about their legal status.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4719", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle"}
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