Whether the Government plans to make reductions to public services to meet its objective to reduce the number of civil servants by 91,000.

Whether the Government plans to make reductions to public services to meet its objective to reduce the number of civil servants by 91,000.

In recent years the civil service has delivered in the face of unprecedented challenges. This Government are focused on improving efficiency and reducing the cost of public service delivery. The Government are totally committed to delivering high-quality public services and want to do so as effectively and efficiently as possible.

In recent years the civil service has delivered in the face of unprecedented challenges. This Government are focused on improving efficiency and reducing the cost of public service delivery. The Government are totally committed to delivering high-quality public services and want to do so as effectively and efficiently as possible.

I thank the Minister for his answer. However, such job losses risk even longer backlogs for services such as issuing passports and driving licences—systems that are already in chaos—and they will not even deliver savings to the taxpayer. A new study by economists employed in the Government Department shows that, in addition to the short-term bill for redundancy payments, these plans could drain £3 billion annually from the UK economy and result in the knock-on effect of the loss of 118,000 private sector jobs. With civil servants feeling increasingly overworked and underpaid, should not the Minister drop these reckless proposals?

I thank the Minister for his answer. However, such job losses risk even longer backlogs for services such as issuing passports and driving licences—systems that are already in chaos—and they will not even deliver savings to the taxpayer. A new study by economists employed in the Government Department shows that, in addition to the short-term bill for redundancy payments, these plans could drain £3 billion annually from the UK economy and result in the knock-on effect of the loss of 118,000 private sector jobs. With civil servants feeling increasingly overworked and underpaid, should not the Minister drop these reckless proposals?

I am sure the hon. Gentleman recognises that, given what is going on in the world at the moment and the pressures on household incomes, what every person in this country wants is high-quality public services but delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible. He is wrong to assume that just because we have x number of people we need to always keep x number of people. There are innovations we can do, which are common in the private sector, such as the use of digital networks and of AI to support strong delivery of public services. None of these should be ignored or forgotten about as a way of delivering high-quality public services on an efficient and effective basis.

I am sure the hon. Gentleman recognises that, given what is going on in the world at the moment and the pressures on household incomes, what every person in this country wants is high-quality public services but delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible. He is wrong to assume that just because we have x number of people we need to always keep x number of people. There are innovations we can do, which are common in the private sector, such as the use of digital networks and of AI to support strong delivery of public services. None of these should be ignored or forgotten about as a way of delivering high-quality public services on an efficient and effective basis.

In the summer, there was a number of stories about downgrading the fast-track process for recruiting civil servants. I have always believed we need the best and brightest in the civil service to deliver first-class services. Is that Government policy, or have they had any thoughts about this, because the system has served us very well over many years?

In the summer, there was a number of stories about downgrading the fast-track process for recruiting civil servants. I have always believed we need the best and brightest in the civil service to deliver first-class services. Is that Government policy, or have they had any thoughts about this, because the system has served us very well over many years?

The Government are absolutely committed to ensuring that there is always a path into the civil service for people who are high quality; we need really

good, high-quality civil servants. That is absolutely our priority. I spoke earlier about apprentices, and my hon. Friend raises an important point regarding fast track. I can assure him we will make certain there are routes into the civil service for the high-quality public servants we all need to deliver high-quality public services.

The Government are absolutely committed to ensuring that there is always a path into the civil service for people who are high quality; we need really

good, high-quality civil servants. That is absolutely our priority. I spoke earlier about apprentices, and my hon. Friend raises an important point regarding fast track. I can assure him we will make certain there are routes into the civil service for the high-quality public servants we all need to deliver high-quality public services.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what comparative assessment she has made of the effect of (a) redundancies and (b) reductions in pay during the covid-19 outbreak on women and men.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what comparative assessment she has made of the effect of (a) redundancies and (b) reductions in pay during the covid-19 outbreak on women and men.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the Pregnancy and Maternity (Redundancy Protection) Bill.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the Pregnancy and Maternity (Redundancy Protection) Bill.

How about: I will take the hon. Lady’s question and give her a full response?

How about: I will take the hon. Lady’s question and give her a full response?

Last year, the UK Government consulted on extending—[Inaudible.] By 2019, the UK Government committed to improving redundancy protection. However, no legislation [Inaudible.] Will the Minister provide an update on what progress has been made or is it, as I fear, that there has not been any?

Last year, the UK Government consulted on extending—[Inaudible.] By 2019, the UK Government committed to improving redundancy protection. However, no legislation [Inaudible.] Will the Minister provide an update on what progress has been made or is it, as I fear, that there has not been any?

When a construction company in my constituency recently went bust, the construction workers, who are predominantly men, found support and mainly found re-employment, but the administration staff—predominantly women—did not. What are the Government doing to ensure that women are not disproportionately affected by closures?

When a construction company in my constituency recently went bust, the construction workers, who are predominantly men, found support and mainly found re-employment, but the administration staff—predominantly women—did not. What are the Government doing to ensure that women are not disproportionately affected by closures?

The DWP takes such matters very seriously and will often put in a bespoke plan, particularly if there are a large number of redundancies in one location. A lot of work has been going on in the DWP to ensure that that happens across all sectors. I am sure that the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my hon. Friend the Member for North West Hampshire (Kit Malthouse), has heard the hon. Lady’s question and will take that back to the Department.

The DWP takes such matters very seriously and will often put in a bespoke plan, particularly if there are a large number of redundancies in one location. A lot of work has been going on in the DWP to ensure that that happens across all sectors. I am sure that the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my hon. Friend the Member for North West Hampshire (Kit Malthouse), has heard the hon. Lady’s question and will take that back to the Department.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to begin her review of the Equality and Human Rights Commission; and whether the scope of that review will include staffing levels and the implications of recent redundancies.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to begin her review of the Equality and Human Rights Commission; and whether the scope of that review will include staffing levels and the implications of recent redundancies.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will review the management and funding of the Equality and Human Rights Commission after recent redundancies.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will review the management and funding of the Equality and Human Rights Commission after recent redundancies.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions has she had with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission on the number of (a) redundancies, (b) planned redundancies, (c) vacancies and (d) agency workers employed at the Commission; and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions has she had with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission on the number of (a) redundancies, (b) planned redundancies, (c) vacancies and (d) agency workers employed at the Commission; and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment her Department has made of the levels of discrimination against EU citizens in the UK in relation to (a) employment and (b) redundancy since June 2016.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment her Department has made of the levels of discrimination against EU citizens in the UK in relation to (a) employment and (b) redundancy since June 2016.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many (a) men and (b) women have left the Government Equalities Office under exit schemes since 31 March 2016.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many (a) men and (b) women have left the Government Equalities Office under exit schemes since 31 March 2016.

What steps she is taking to strengthen redundancy protection for new mothers returning from maternity leave.

What steps she is taking to strengthen redundancy protection for new mothers returning from maternity leave.

The Government proudly supported the Equality Act 2010, which makes it unlawful to discriminate on a number of grounds, including pregnancy and maternity. We know from talking from employers that four out of five say that they want to do the right thing and support pregnant women and women returning to work after pregnancy. There are still far too many cases of discrimination and unlawful treatment and both Minister Margot James and I are absolutely determined to come down like a ton of bricks on employers who break the law and to make sure that women are completely aware of the rights that they enjoy. I am aware of the consultation to extend the time by which somebody can report to a tribunal—

The Government proudly supported the Equality Act 2010, which makes it unlawful to discriminate on a number of grounds, including pregnancy and maternity. We know from talking from employers that four out of five say that they want to do the right thing and support pregnant women and women returning to work after pregnancy. There are still far too many cases of discrimination and unlawful treatment and both Minister Margot James and I are absolutely determined to come down like a ton of bricks on employers who break the law and to make sure that women are completely aware of the rights that they enjoy. I am aware of the consultation to extend the time by which somebody can report to a tribunal—

I see little evidence of the ton of bricks. As a former employer, I know first hand the value of protecting maternity rights, not just for the expectant mum or returning mother but for the employer as well. Does the Minister agree that it is vital that we encourage employers to meet their legal responsibilities to prevent the discrimination happening in the first place and that those who do not should be held to account?

I see little evidence of the ton of bricks. As a former employer, I know first hand the value of protecting maternity rights, not just for the expectant mum or returning mother but for the employer as well. Does the Minister agree that it is vital that we encourage employers to meet their legal responsibilities to prevent the discrimination happening in the first place and that those who do not should be held to account?