Seema Malhotra MP: speeches

Speeches

• 18 Jun 2025 · Violence against Women and Girls · Hansard source

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  The shadow Minister may not have listened closely to the statement on Monday, because that was confirmed by the Home Secretary. He may want to know that earlier this year, the Financial Times told us the reality of what went on inside the previous Government after Alexis Jay’s report. The FT said that No. 10 urged Home Office Ministers to “do more to ‘engage with Alexis’ and draw up a…plan for her recommendations.” One veteran admitted that “The report came out at an unfortunate time and was maybe to some extent forgotten or deprioritised.” “Forgotten or deprioritised”—yet now the Conservatives have the cheek to lecture this Government about the action we are taking to support and protect victims.

• 18 Jun 2025 · Violence against Women and Girls · Hansard source

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  We are taking firm action across Government to deliver our unprecedented ambition to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. That is underpinned by a new Government strategy, which is to be published this summer. Last year, we launched new domestic abuse protection orders and set out new measures to tackle stalking. Through the safe streets mission board and the VAWG ministerial group, Ministers across Government regularly meet to discuss and drive progress.

• 18 Jun 2025 · Violence against Women and Girls · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising this issue. It does affect women and girls more, but I take the points that he raises, and it is important that all people get the support that they need. I look forward to looking closely at his private Member’s Bill.

• 18 Jun 2025 · Endometriosis · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Member for raising this issue. She is right: it is unacceptable that women can wait up to 10 years for an endometriosis diagnosis. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s updated guidelines on endometriosis make firmer recommendations on referral and investigations, which will help women receive a diagnosis and effective treatment faster. It is important that we continue to work as closely we can on this issue across the whole UK.

• 18 Jun 2025 · Endometriosis · Hansard source

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  The hon. Gentleman will be aware that we are taking forward a number of measures as part of the women’s health strategy. He will also know that as a result of our pilot on women’s health hubs, which have been established in 41 of England’s 42 integrated care systems, we are working to make sure that we are supporting and tackling women’s health, including by shifting care out of hospitals, reducing waiting lists, and continuing to engage with local areas to use the learnings from women’s health hubs to improve the local delivery of services.

• 18 Jun 2025 · Endometriosis · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend is absolutely right to say that we need a focus on women’s health. Our priority is turning the commitments in the women’s health strategy into tangible actions, such as by setting out how we will eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 through the new cervical cancer plan. We have taken urgent action, through our elective reform plan, to support the nearly 600,000 women who are on gynaecology waiting lists.

• 2 Jun 2025 · Qualifying Period for Settlement · Hansard source

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  The changes are indeed important. We recognise how important they are to people and will listen to what people tell us in the consultation. After that we will provide details of how the scheme will work, including in respect of any transitional arrangements for those already in the UK.

• 31 Mar 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I am happy to speak to the hon. Member about the case she raises.

• 19 Mar 2025 · Ethnic Minority People: Discrimination · Hansard source

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  The shadow Minister knows that Hamas is a proscribed organisation, and we will not tolerate antisemitism at any point, or in any way.

• 19 Mar 2025 · Ethnic Minority People: Discrimination · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend references the race equality engagement group, which we announced yesterday. The group will strengthen the Government’s links with ethnic minority communities, enabling effective two-way dialogue on the Government’s work to tackle race equalities, and engaging on all issues. We are considering our position on caste discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, and we will update the House in due course.

• 19 Mar 2025 · Ethnic Minority People: Discrimination · Hansard source

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  The hon. Gentleman will agree that antisemitism has no place in our society or in our workplaces. This is an extremely important issue, and he will know that the Home Secretary and the whole Government take it very seriously.

• 19 Mar 2025 · Ethnic Minority People: Discrimination · Hansard source

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  The hon. Lady is absolutely right. It is important that we tackle religious and racial hatred in all its forms.

• 24 Feb 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Member for his question, and if he wants to write to me about that case, I will be very happy to look at it.

• 20 Jan 2025 · Family Visas: Income Requirement · Hansard source

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  I do not think that the hon. Gentleman was in the Chamber at the start of the debate.

• 13 Jan 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for raising that case, and I am very happy to meet him to discuss the issues he has raised.

• 7 Jan 2025 · Workplace Pay Gaps · Hansard source

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  Thank you, Sir Roger. I will give way.

• 7 Jan 2025 · Workplace Pay Gaps · Hansard source

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  I am conscious of time.

• 18 Dec 2024 · Discrimination Against Ethnic Minorities · Hansard source

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  The right hon. Lady will be aware that it is illegal to discriminate in the way she has described. I will certainly ensure that her question is followed up with the relevant colleagues.

• 18 Dec 2024 · Discrimination Against Ethnic Minorities · Hansard source

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  Yes.

• 18 Dec 2024 · Discrimination Against Ethnic Minorities · Hansard source

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  The hon. Gentleman has raised an important point, and I will ensure that he has a meeting with the relevant Minister to discuss it.

• 25 Nov 2024 · Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Lady for her question, and for all her work for those who are here from Afghanistan. We continue to seek to email and notify all individuals currently resettled in the UK whom we are aware of, and I will certainly continue to discuss with her the methods we are using for those facing other issues.

• 21 Oct 2024 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for raising that issue. It was a shocking report, and one that the previous Government refused to publish. I would be very happy to meet him and other hon. Members to discuss it.

• 11 Sept 2024 · Rural Depopulation · Hansard source

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  I am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman, who is a long-standing campaigner on these issues. I make the point that it is important that we work closely across Westminster and with our devolved Administrations. This is part of an important reset, and it is important that we look at how we tackle these challenges together. Many of the issues that have been raised are matters for the Scottish Government and for local authorities in Scotland, but it is important that we look at how we work together across Westminster and with the Scottish Government to ensure that we have shared projects that are a success.