Speeches by Burton-Sampson.

“Thank you very much. Welcome, and thank you for coming in today. I give my apologies now; I am going to have to sneak out for 20 minutes in the middle because I have an urgent meeting, but it is not that I am not interested in this topic—it is massively important. To start off with, I am just going to talk about the ma…”

“Does anyone have any other views on statutory powers that a commissioner could or should hold?”

“What statutory powers and resources would you expect a newly established commissioner to have?”

“Thank you all for your input. Just one final area to focus on from me: Joanna, before the general election you said that given the choice between having a cross-departmental Minister for older people or establishing a commissioner, your preference was the commissioner. Is that still your preference today?”

“Go ahead, Carole.”

“Going back to that model and strategy that you have in Wales, do you feel it is successful, or could it be expanded to be more successful?”

“Thank you—there were unanimous nods there in that it does not feature. I will come to all of you now. Maybe let us start with Caroline. What do you think the UK Government’s priorities should be in developing a strategy for older people and ageing?”

“Thank you. Joanna, did you want to add something?”

“Thank you. Would anybody else like to comment? Maybe Rhian or Carole?”

“5. What steps she is taking to increase the availability of breakfast clubs in primary schools.”

“I have contacted all the primary schools in my constituency to encourage them to become early adopters. Child poverty in my constituency stands at 12.1%, and food bank use has risen by 433% over the last five years. Does my hon. Friend agree that breakfast clubs will be part of the solution by helping to lift children …”

“My hon. Friend is quite right: a disproportionate number of black, Asian and minority ethnic individuals are becoming infected with HIV. Does my hon. Friend think that it is right to raise awareness of things like PrEP in communities that may be disproportionately affected, so that we can put them in the same position …”

“Thank you to all three of you for coming in today. Vicki, we recently heard from some women who shared their experiences and one thing that struck me was that they all brought up the impact this had on their partners, and we often forget that. From your experience, and from the people you have worked with, what are the…”

“Vicki and Munira, are you aware of employers not following the ACAS guidance on recording pregnancy-related absences separately, and are women facing unlawful workplace discrimination as a result of employers not following that process?”

“Dr Farren, did you want to add anything to that?”

“Absolutely. Vicki, what more can be done to recognise the effects on partners and supporting them in the workplace?”

“Munira, the third sector in particular has argued that reliance on sick pay after pregnancy loss can be hugely damaging for women and their partners. Can you explain a little as to why that might be?”

“What is the issue here? Is it that employers are not aware of the guidance, or are employers choosing not to follow the guidance? If they are choosing not to follow it, do we know why?”

“Munira, did you have something to add?”

“Rachel and Rhea, do you find many employers putting in provision for partners or following that guidance? Maybe you first, Rachel, and then Rhea.”