Topical Questions
Wednesday, 11 November 2026
Contributions
Paula Barker (Liverpool Wavertree) (Lab)Labour
T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.
The Minister for Women and Equalities (Bridget Phillipson)Labour
Women and girls should never have to shrink our lives or ambitions because of outdated misogynistic attitudes. The appalling testimonies we have heard in recent days underline how much further we have to go. I pay tribute to all the women who have shown such bravery in coming forward and sharing their experiences. The misogyny taskforce will help to tackle misogyny in workplaces, communities and online. It is backed by £15 million, which we are working with businesses and philanthropists to grow. The Government are clear that misogyny has no place in our society and it is time to consign those attitudes to history.
A report in July by the Women and Equalities Committee found that black people are four times more likely to experience homelessness than people who are white. In 2025-26, black people made up 2% of households in Liverpool, with 12% of those recorded homeless, or at risk of being so. Despite the Government’s welcome commitment to end rough sleeping, they are still to respond to the Committee’s report. Will the Minister chase that urgently and set out what steps the Office for Equality and Opportunity is taking to ensure that the rough sleeping programme addresses the specific challenges facing black people experiencing homelessness?
The Committee’s report provides important evidence on the experiences of black people facing homelessness, and I can assure my hon. Friend that the Government will respond shortly. Last month, I visited Liverpool with Baroness Lawrence and the race equality engagement group, and we heard about how real efforts are being made to build stronger communities and tackle racism, and how important it is that there is safe and secure housing for ethnic minority communities across our country.
Mr SpeakerSpeaker
I call the shadow Minister.
Rebecca Smith (South West Devon) (Con)Conservative
The Secretary of State has made class a central theme of her equalities agenda, but before she can tackle class-based disadvantage, she must surely be able to define it, so what is her definition of class and how will her Department identify who is and who is not working class?
It is important that we take action on the disadvantage that holds people back by virtue of family background and income. We intend to enact the socioeconomic duty, which will ensure that all public authorities take seriously their responsibility in how they design and deliver public services. I am grateful for the shadow Minister’s interest in this area and look forward to working with her to ensure that we finally take class seriously as a country.
Josh Newbury (Cannock Chase) (Lab)Labour
T3. There is a clear distinction between discussion and disagreement, and harmful conversion practices. The Government’s draft Bill is clear in using the existing definition of abusive conduct in criminal law. Does the Minister agree with me that the protections in the Bill are urgently needed, and that before the end of this Session we should pass the comprehensive, trans-inclusive conversion practices ban that our manifesto called for?
Abusive conversion practices have no place in our country, and no one should face abuse because of who they are or who they love. We have brought forward a draft Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny because we want to get it right. I look forward to the Joint Committee’s recommendations and to working across the House to finally deliver that long-overdue ban.
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst (Solihull West and Shirley) (Con)Conservative
T5. Will the Minister set out what steps she is taking to ensure compliance with the legal framework around single-sex spaces for all public bodies?
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is responsible for ensuring that public bodies honour their responsibilities and provide appropriate single-sex spaces, as well as ensuring that we have services available for everyone in our country. Government Departments have also published guidance so that we can be clear about how we will deliver on our responsibilities, but we recognise and will uphold the ruling of the Supreme Court.
Graeme Downie (Dunfermline and Dollar) (Lab)Labour
T4. For nearly a decade, Dunfermline Athletic football club has made Samaritans its main charity partner. Through matchday messages, pitch-side advertising and an annual awareness day at East End Park, the Pars tell fans that it is always good to talk, reaching people who might never walk into a GP surgery. Will the Minister join me in congratulating the Pars on the work they do, and will she ensure that the Government’s own work on mental health learns from such community partnerships?
I commend Dunfermline Athletic for a powerful example of what can be achieved in that kind of partnership with Samaritans. It is important that we are all able to seek help when we are experiencing mental health challenges. Suicide is one of the biggest killers of men in our country, which is why the work that the Minister for men and boys, my hon. Friend the Member for Rother Valley (Jake Richards), is leading is incredibly important in ensuring that everyone can access timely support, so that we do not see a single person lost to suicide wherever we can prevent it.
Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD)Liberal Democrat
T6. The Prime Minister has said that it is important that rape and sexual assault victims do not feel like they are the ones being put on trial in cases, yet the mother of a rape victim who came to see me last week said that her daughter felt exactly that way when her abuser was put on trial. Does the Minister agree with the Victims’ Commissioner that juries in those cases need to be directed in the myths and misconceptions around rape?
As the Prime Minister has set out, we believe that it is important that that recognition is there. I am very sorry to hear about the experiences of the hon. Lady’s constituent, and if she would like to discuss that further with a Minister, I can certainly ensure that takes place. In recent times we have seen shameful comments that trivialise the experiences of women, and we must all be clear, right across society, that violence against women and girls is abhorrent, there can be no excuses and those who commit acts of violence and sexual violence against women should face the full force of the law.
Carolyn Harris (Neath and Swansea East) (Lab)Labour
Thank you, Mr Speaker— [ Interruption. ] On behalf of menopausal women around the world, I thank the House for that warm welcome. According to the big Menopause Mandate 2026 survey, 90% of working women say that symptoms affect them at work, yet only 39% of their employers have a menopause policy. How will the Government ensure that the menopause action plans set to be introduced next year will be implemented and monitored to support women through that very important stage of their life?
My hon. Friend has been an incredible campaigner on this issue and has done so much to help women across our country. We are taking action as a Government, ensuring that big employers have to produce action plans to say how they will support women going through the menopause, which many already do, because they know it is an incredible waste of talent to see women leaving brilliant jobs and careers just when they are getting into their stride.
Ben Obese-Jecty (Huntingdon) (Con)Conservative
T7. In November last year, the former Prime Minister pledged to hold a national summit on men and boys by the end of 2026. Could the Government provide an update on exactly where we are with that, given that we are now in November this year?
We will be holding a summit, because we recognise that there is more to do to support men and boys in our country, especially around issues like mental health, as I touched on earlier. I will ensure that the relevant Minister gives the hon. Gentleman an update on the date for that.
Before we come to Prime Minister’s questions, I welcome to the Gallery the President of the Massachusetts State Senate and her delegation.
Source: UK Parliament Hansard API. Debate ID: 5435649.