Oral Answers to Questions

Steven Paterson Excerpts

Thursday 26th May 2016 Commons Chamber

[Steven Paterson (Stirling) (SNP)]

T7. Given the importance of the health and work programme, which supports disabled people who are unable to work or gain access to work, will the Minister ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to publish his Green Paper as a matter of urgency, so that disabled people do not have to wait any longer to access support?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Disabled People (Justin Tomlinson)]

The Green Paper gives a fantastic opportunity for stakeholders, with their first-hand experience and knowledge, to help shape the policy, and, where there is local best practice, to look for ways in which we can scale that up.

Oral Answers to Questions

Steven Paterson Excerpts

Thursday 25th February 2016 Commons Chamber

The Minister for Women and Equalities was asked—

[Steven Paterson (Stirling) (SNP)]

1. What steps the Government are taking to tackle race inequality.

[Roger Mullin (Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath) (SNP)]

12. What steps the Government are taking to tackle race inequality.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Marcus Jones)]

The Prime Minister has set out challenging Government targets to increase black, Asian and minority ethnic opportunities by 2020, including take-up of apprenticeships, employment and recruitment to the police and armed services.

[Steven Paterson]

The Scottish Government have launched a programme entitled, “New Scots: Integrating Refugees in Scottish Communities”, in order to ensure that refugees have every opportunity and support to rebuild their lives in Scotland. What similar initiatives are the UK Government taking to support refugees and fight racism?

[Mr Jones]

The Under-Secretary of State for Refugees, my hon. Friend the Member for Watford (Richard Harrington), who works across the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Home Office, is working extremely hard to support refugees in a way similar to the programme that the hon. Gentleman mentions.