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9/11/07 : Minister for Women visits Reading as Labour plans more rights for parents
Harriet Harman MP, Minister for Women and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, was in Reading on Wednesday to speak to local party members at a fund-raising dinner about her work promoting equality in Britain and beyond.
Ms Harman's visit came the day after the Government had announced in the Queen's Speech an independent review to look at extending the rights of parents to request flexible working to help them care for older children, something she has long campaigned for.
At present only parents of children aged up to six have the right to ask to work flexibly (although parents of disabled children are currently able to request flexible working at any age). The Government has asked Sainsbury's human resources director Imelda Walsh to lead an independent review into how flexible working can be extended.
Ms Harman has also campaigned for action to combat the pay gap and called for extra controls to prevent vulnerable girls from being brought to Britain and forced to work as prostitutes.
Ms Harman was joined at the dinner by local MP Martin Salter and Reading East parliamentary candidate Anneliese Dodds.
Anneliese Dodds said: "Together with the trade union Unison, I have been working to highlight the pay-gap between men and women, which stands at almost 22% for full-time workers in the South East. Harriet Harman pledged more action on the pay gap, something we can all welcome. I was also pleased to hear that Harriet supported moves to increase parents' ability to request flexible working".
Martin Salter MP said: "The last time Harriet came to Reading she gave strong support to my campaign to outlaw violent internet porn sites. That law has now been passed, and it was a pleasure to welcome her back in her new role as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Minister for Women. Harriet has always been a strong campaigner against the exploitation of women, and for equal rights in the workplace and elsewhere, and it was good to see she had lost none of her passion for making Britain a fairer place."
Harriet Harman MP said: "Labour has already built strong support for families and brought in the right of parents of children under six to request flexible working arrangements. However, as any parent knows, older children can need just as much support and guidance, which is why we are now exploring how to extend flexible working to even more families. I believe that families are the framework of our lives and matter not just to their individual members but to our communities, the economy and society as a whole."
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From left to right, Anneliese Dodds, Marian Livingston of Church ward, the Rt. Hon. Harriet Harman MP, QC and Martin Salter MP.
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