Women and Equalities – in the House of Commons at on 5 November 2025.
Jack Rankin
Conservative, Windsor
What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of diversity, equality and inclusion schemes in the public sector.
Olivia Bailey
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
This Government are determined to break down barriers to opportunity so that everyone can achieve success, and this commitment is underpinned by strong data and evidence.
Jack Rankin
Conservative, Windsor
Earlier this year, the Education Secretary said that white working-class boys “have been betrayed”, yet this summer, MI5, MI6 and GCHQ ran an internship scheme that was open only to people from ethnic minority backgrounds. I am afraid the House of Commons runs a similar scheme, in partnership with the Windsor Fellowship. What message does the Minister think it sends to our children when some doors are closed to them because of the colour of their skin, particularly in the context of what the Education Secretary said about white working-class boys?
Olivia Bailey
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
I have a lot of respect for the hon. Gentleman, who is a fellow Berkshire MP, but I gently say to him that it is right that people who serve our country, in whatever form, reflect the communities that they serve. These schemes are about levelling the playing field, not creating an unfair advantage, and everybody who gains a place has done so on merit. On the Government side of the House, we follow the evidence; he just follows Nigel Farage.
Florence Eshalomi
Chair, Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, Chair, Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
As we come to the end of celebrating Black History Month, it is vital that we continue to promote diversity in all workplaces. Does the Minister agree that it is fundamental for us to have DEI practices in all workforces so that we can fight for equality, fairness and transparency and prevent discrimination, especially the discrimination that far too many people still face in the workplace?
Olivia Bailey
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
I thank my hon. Friend for her great campaigning work. I agree with her that we must do absolutely everything possible to break down all barriers to opportunity in our country.
Claire Coutinho
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Shadow Minister (Equalities)
Labour’s previous definition of “Islamophobia” was adopted by councils that had grooming gang scandals, and it said that even talking about grooming gangs was an example of “anti-Muslim racism”. We know from Louise Casey that public servants did not speak up because they were scared of being called racist. The Government are now bringing in a new definition, but they are refusing to tell the public what is in it. Will the Minister commit to publishing the draft definition, before it is adopted, for full public scrutiny?
Olivia Bailey
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Wherever there is abuse, it should be tackled, and we will publish details in due course.
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Lindsay Hoyle
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