Results 1-20 of 418 for speaker:Sharon Hodgson

Sittings of the House (14 Jul 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: I beg to move— [ Interruption. ]

Public Bill Committee: Equality Bill (9 Jun 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: Yes, please, thank you for letting me ask one, Mr. Benton. I have a couple of quick questions on pregnancy discrimination—it will probably have to be my only question. The National Union of Teachers is concerned about clause 16(7) and the use of the word “reasonable”, which we keep seeing in a lot of legislation at the moment. The NUT feels that employers could defend...

Public Bill Committee: Equality Bill (9 Jun 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: The YWCA is concerned about clause 79 with regard to education for pregnant girls in school. Evidence shows that a significant proportion of them are treated less favourably in school.

Public Bill Committee: Equality Bill (9 Jun 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: There will still be a provision in the Bill for a default retirement age or forced retirement at 65. You are probably aware that this issue is currently being considered by the High Court. Do you believe that this form of direct age discrimination is justified?

Public Bill Committee: Equality Bill (9 Jun 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: I am sorry.

Public Bill Committee: Equality Bill (2 Jun 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: I want to talk about carers and the provisions in the Bill about discrimination by association. Do you believe that that will provide carers with rights to request further provision such as flexible working? Do you think that that is an area into which the Bill should be moving?

Public Bill Committee: Equality Bill (2 Jun 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: Is there any other aspect in the Bill about carers that you think we should be looking at further?

Written Answers — Children, Schools and Families: Pupils: Epilepsy (1 Jun 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department issues to schools on the provision of support for children diagnosed with epilepsy; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which such guidance is complied with.

Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Middle East: Armed Conflict (20 May 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an assessment of the likely effect on the Middle East peace process of the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Corporal Shalit.

Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Gaza (19 May 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to facilitate the opening of all border crossings into Gaza.

Women and Equality: Flexible Working Arrangements (14 May 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: What recent discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues on awareness among parents and carers of disabled children and adults of their right to request flexible working arrangements.

Women and Equality: Flexible Working Arrangements (14 May 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: Flexible working is both family friendly and business friendly. Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that those requests should always fall on open ears?

Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Middle East: Armed Conflict (13 May 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with their counterparts in the (i) European Union and (ii) UN Security Council on efforts to secure the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Corporal Shalit.

Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Middle East: Armed Conflict (13 May 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Israeli government on the kidnapped Israeli soldier, Corporal Shalit.

Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions: Equality Bill (11 May 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: To ensure that the House is aware of this, will my hon. Friend clarify that Durham City was a Liberal Democrat council?

Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions: Equality Bill (11 May 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: I thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, for your understanding and grace in giving me time to leave the Chamber for an urgent matter. I appreciate it. I am delighted to speak in support of the Bill, which I believe to be a landmark piece of legislation that will help to improve the lives and life chances of millions of people across Britain. It is a great honour to follow the hon. Member for...

Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions: Equality Bill (11 May 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: It may have been the making of my career, but I leave that to hon. Members to wonder at. At the time, I was a young personnel clerk and I had applied to be a training officer. I got down to the last two, but I did not get the job. During feedback, I was told that the reason—it was not the main reason; it was the only reason—I did not get the job was that my accent was thought to...

Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions: Equality Bill (11 May 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: As ever, the hon. Gentleman makes a valid point. Indeed, I think that those on our Front Bench agreed with it too. Most of us are agreed that the number of women in this place needs to rise substantially over the years to come. I wholeheartedly support the measures in the Bill to extend permission for all-women shortlists to 2030. The discrepancies that we see between the numbers of men and...

Sale of Mobile Homes (Interviews): New Clause 21 — Further education corporations in England: co-operation and promotion of well-being (5 May 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: My comments on this cluster of amendments will focus primarily on the role and make-up of the local safeguarding children boards and the children's trust boards. In Committee, I mentioned one or two concerns specifically about consultation. I am not sure that I received any answers, so I hope that I will today. The Local Government Association has been keen to state the case for ongoing...

Sale of Mobile Homes (Interviews): New Clause 14 — Persons detained in youth accommodation: further provision (5 May 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: I agree. As hon. Members know, I introduced a private Member's Bill on special educational needs and the collection of information. The problem exists not only for children in custody, but for children as they move around the country, even when their parents are totally responsible for them. Often the information is not passed on from one local authority to another with regard to the specific...