Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate she has made of the cost to local authority-run social care services of implementing the Equality and Human Rights Commission's revised code of practice for services, public functions and associations.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 56659 on 10 June 2025.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Equality and Human Rights Commission's guidance entitled An interim update on the practical implications of the UK Supreme Court judgment, published on 25 April 2025, on (a) businesses and (b) the economy.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Office for Equality and Opportunity in the Cabinet Office will consider the EHRC's updated draft Code of Practice once it has been submitted and engage with them to ensure it provides the further certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the Supreme Court ruling. Employers and other duty bearers must follow the law and should take appropriate specialist legal advice where necessary.
We do not centrally retain budgeting information on the EHRC’s spending on specific evaluations of its policies.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate she has made of the cost to Fire and Rescue Authorities of implementing the Equality and Human Rights Commission's revised code of practice for services, public functions and associations.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Secretary of State has not made a specific estimate of the cost to fire and rescue authorities (FRAs) of implementing the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s revised Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations.
The cost of implementation is a matter for each individual fire and rescue authority or fire and rescue service to determine, as it would be for any other public sector employer. Each authority is responsible for assessing its own operational needs, resource allocation, and compliance strategies in line with its statutory duties under the Equality Act 2010.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether it is her Department's policy that organisations should await the publication of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Code of Practice guidance before changing their policies and practices following the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
The Government has set out our expectation that employers and other duty bearers follow the clarity the Supreme Court ruling provides. Where necessary, they should take appropriate specialist legal advice.
The EHRC have opened their consultation on the draft updated statutory Code of Practice, seeking views from affected stakeholders. We encourage people to ensure their views are heard by submitting a response to the consultation by Monday 30th June. We will consider the final draft Code once it has been submitted and are engaging with the EHRC to ensure it provides the further certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the ruling.
Of course, we will continue to engage with a broad range of stakeholders on equalities issues as we have always done.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she will be taking to consult a wide range of stakeholders before the publication of the Code of Practice guidance by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in response to the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
The Government has set out our expectation that employers and other duty bearers follow the clarity the Supreme Court ruling provides. Where necessary, they should take appropriate specialist legal advice.
The EHRC have opened their consultation on the draft updated statutory Code of Practice, seeking views from affected stakeholders. We encourage people to ensure their views are heard by submitting a response to the consultation by Monday 30th June. We will consider the final draft Code once it has been submitted and are engaging with the EHRC to ensure it provides the further certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the ruling.
Of course, we will continue to engage with a broad range of stakeholders on equalities issues as we have always done.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the needs of male victims of sexual violence will be met by the new national sexual violence helpline.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We recognise that men and boys experience abusive and violent crimes, such as stalking, domestic abuse, and sexual abuse and we are committed to ensuring that male victims and survivors get the support that they need.
The 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line, delivered by Rape Crisis England and Wales and funded by the Ministry of Justice, provides free and confidential emotional and listening support to all victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse aged 16 and over. Where appropriate, the service will signpost victims to longer-term support services, including therapeutic support.
The Home Office and the Ministry of Justice also fund services specifically for male victims of domestic abuse, in addition to services for LGBT+, Deaf, and older victims, which provide essential support to male victims.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support male victims of sexual violence.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We recognise that men and boys experience abusive and violent crimes, such as stalking, domestic abuse, and sexual abuse and we are committed to ensuring that male victims and survivors get the support that they need.
The 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line, delivered by Rape Crisis England and Wales and funded by the Ministry of Justice, provides free and confidential emotional and listening support to all victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse aged 16 and over. Where appropriate, the service will signpost victims to longer-term support services, including therapeutic support.
The Home Office and the Ministry of Justice also fund services specifically for male victims of domestic abuse, in addition to services for LGBT+, Deaf, and older victims, which provide essential support to male victims.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which Government department is responsible for the UK's events industry strategy.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The UK is a world leader in the events industry. The events industry spans many sectors and has cross-cutting interests across a number of Government Departments including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Business and Trade, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Cabinet Office and the Home Office on safety and security elements.
The Department for Business and Trade works closely with the events sector to ensure they are engaged and able to shape developing government policy and any business issues the sector is facing are captured and addressed.
There have been a number of sector specific strategies published, including the Gold Framework which set out how the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and UK Sport work jointly to support the bidding for and staging of major sporting events at a UK level. In addition, UK Sport published a major event strategic framework, Making Live Sport Matter, which sets out a target list of major events hosting for the coming decade.
DCMS will also be launching a new Visitor Economy Growth Strategy later this year, which will include the business events industry. It will set out a clear, joined-up plan for driving growth, improving the visitor offer and strengthening the UK's appeal in an increasingly competitive global market.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help enforce the Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products (Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organisations, Tariff Quotas and Wine) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2021.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to resetting our EU relationship, including by seeking to negotiate an SPS agreement. We have been clear that an SPS agreement could boost trade and deliver significant benefits on both sides. It’s too early to discuss any specific areas in detail and we will not be providing a running commentary on discussions with the EU.
A public consultation on proposals to improve and extend current mandatory method of production labelling was undertaken last year by the previous Government. We are now carefully considering all responses before deciding on next steps and will respond to this consultation in due course
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support sugar beet farmers on the negotiations with British Sugar.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises the importance of sugar beet farmers who are vital to UK sugar production. Also, that sugar beet itself, used in crop rotations, is beneficial to soil and crop health and allows arable farms a season of “rest” from cereal production.
We are committed to promoting fairness across the food supply chain. That includes seeing a price agreed for sugar beet that benefits both growers and processors, in the context of the global market. There is a well-established process in place to agree the sugar beet price; designed to be independent between both parties. An Inter Professional Agreement is agreed each year between both parties and sets out the process for negotiating and agreeing price, terms and conditions for the upcoming crop year, as well as any dispute resolution process.