Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Matt Hancock and Vicky Foxcroft

Tuesday 26th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Vicky Foxcroft (Lewisham, Deptford) (Lab)]

14. What progress his Department has made on the implementation of a public health approach to tackling violence.

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Matt Hancock)]

We are pursuing a multi-agency approach to prevent and tackle serious violence. Healthcare is of course one of the important and relevant agencies that need to work together right across government to reduce knife crime.

[Vicky Foxcroft]

The Government are committed to a public health approach, but we heard the Secretary of State dismiss it just a few weeks ago. What assurances can he give that he is now fully signed up to the approach? What evidence is his Department collating? How is the Department working with the Home Office to ensure that we have a long-term strategy for keeping our young people safe?

[Matt Hancock]

I am a huge fan of the public health approach to tackling knife crime. In fact, I was in Croydon yesterday to talk to charities and to students at Croydon College about the role the NHS can play in tackling the scourge of knife crime. I am a big fan of this agenda, and I look forward to working with the hon. Lady and colleagues from across the House.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Matt Hancock and Vicky Foxcroft

Thursday 22nd March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Vicky Foxcroft (Lewisham, Deptford) (Lab)]

T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

[The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Matt Hancock)]

I take this opportunity to congratulate all those in Team GB who competed at the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Pyeongchang. It was one of our most successful Winter Olympics and Paralympics, and Team GB exceeded its medals target with some brilliant performances. I know that the whole House will join me in saying well done to our athletes, who have done their country proud. We continue to support them through the national lottery and look forward to many future successes.

[Vicky Foxcroft]

As we are talking about competitions, Lewisham is in today’s final of the world cup of London boroughs on Twitter, and if anybody has not yet done so, please feel free to vote Lewisham. The competition has been social media at its best: fun and engaging. Unfortunately, we know that social media can also be a platform for bullying and harassment. I know that the Government are consulting on a code of conduct, but when will they finally take action?

BBC Pay

Debate between Matt Hancock and Vicky Foxcroft

Tuesday 9th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Matt Hancock]

One might have thought so. Now, thanks to the transparency measures that we have brought in, we are going to make sure that that happens.

[Vicky Foxcroft (Lewisham, Deptford) (Lab)]

The BBC website reported yesterday that since 2011 so few equal pay cases have been formally recorded as having a successful or an unsuccessful outcome at tribunal that the Ministry of Justice has both figures at 0%. We know that these figures do not reflect the reality and that a large proportion of cases are either withdrawn or settled away from tribunal. Does the Secretary of State agree that this method of reporting prevents us from having a true understanding of the actual figures involved?

[Matt Hancock]

We have brought in stronger laws to ensure that there is transparency, not only at the BBC through the royal charter but statutorily for all large organisations. We have taken action in this area because it is very important to get to the bottom of it.