Gareth Thomas, Shadow Minister for Local Government
Finance, in response to evidence that Surrey County Council came to a
‘gentleman’s agreement with the Government over their budget, said:

“This
recording proves what we have long suspected. The Government came to a secret
“gentleman’s agreement” with the leadership of Surrey County Council, whilst
the rest of country faces a crisis in social care and brutal cuts to
council budgets.

“Theresa
May and her ministers, including Sajid Javid, have been playing political games,
conducting backroom sweetheart deals for their friends, whilst councils across
the country struggle to cobble together the money to adequately fund social
care. Meanwhile, there is a crisis in social care with a £1.9billion funding
gap and elderly people living without the care they need.

“Theresa
May must come clean about the terms of the deal offered to Surrey County
Council, apologise for her Government’s misleading suggestion that there
had been no such deal and ensure other local councils get the same treatment.”

Ends 

Sarah Champion MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Women
and Equalities, responding to an expected budget announcement of funding to
mark the centenary of the 1918 Representation of the People Act, said:

“Labour
is pleased that funding will be provided to mark the centenary of the 1918
Representation of the People Act.

“It’s
right that we mark and celebrate the achievements of so many women who risked
their homes, families and freedom to fight for democracy and economic equality.

“However,
99 years later, women are still having to fight for economic equality under
this Tory government. From cuts to universal credit and 54,000 women
losing their jobs through maternity discrimination, to the treatment of
thousands of women born in the 1950s who have been left with a crisis in their
retirement planning, this government is systematically turning back the clock
on gender economic equality.

"Labour
is committed to conducting a gender audit of all our financial statements in
government and to bringing forward an Economic Equality Bill to address the
structural and cultural barriers that prevent women achieving their full
potential.”

Ends

Editor’s
Notes:

1. Analysis conducted by the Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills and the Equality and Humans Rights Commission estimated
that up to 54,000 women every year are forced out of work due to maternity
discrimination

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/managing-pregnancy-and-maternity-workplace/pregnancy-and-maternity-discrimination-research-findings

2.Independent
House of Commons analysis has shown that as of the 2016 Autumn Statement, 86%
of net savings to the treasury through tax and benefit measures since 2010 have
come from women

Pre-Budget Statement from the Shadow Chancellor

Speaking ahead of the Budget, the Shadow Chancellor has demanded
that the government finds the funding our NHS and social care needs, and that
he must not make women bear the brunt of Tory economic policies as they have
for the last 7 years.

In addition, he said that the chancellor cannot risk building
our economy on the shaky ground of a WTO deal that endangers jobs and growth.

He also, calls on the government to deal with the rising cost of
living, and tackle the problem of chronic low pay for many working families in
our country.

John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, said:

“Philip Hammond’s first Budget comes at a crossroads for our
country ahead of the triggering of Article 50. It cannot be a Budget, where
like his predecessor, he over claims on the government’s economic record, and
under delivers on its promises.

“That is why it is vital he must use his first Budget tomorrow
to provide the adequate funding our NHS and social care system desperately
needs.

“The Tories say they are on the side of working families, but
they are going ahead with cuts to in-work benefits, and presiding over an
economy where six million people earn less than the living wage, and four million
children are in poverty.

“The Budget falls on international women’s day; and although it
is great we have a female Prime Minister, Theresa May has supported every tax
and benefit change in the last seven years, which has meant 86 per cent of the
cuts have fallen on women.

“Therefore, Philip Hammond needs to ensure that his first Budget
breaks with this terrible statistic, and works for women, not one that makes
them bear the brunt of Tory tax giveaways for a wealthy few.

“Finally, the Chancellor cannot risk building our economy on the
shaky ground of a WTO deal that risks jobs and growth, so he must now rule this
out and commit not to turn Britain into a tax haven off the coast of Europe.

“Labour is opposed to any Tory Brexit deal that favours tax
dodgers and the big banks, and would force working families to pick up the tab.

“The Chancellor has to ensure his first Budget is a break from
the past, and not a continuation of the same failed economic policies of the
last seven years.”

Ends

In November 2016, government launched the Future Board Scheme, in partnership with 30% Club and Board Apprentice. The scheme gives talented women from a wide range of backgrounds the opportunity to spend 12 months with boards in a developmental capacity. It is a unique opportunity for senior women to get board experience to progress their careers to the next level.

The concept has been developed through a number of successful trials run by UK Government Investments, Board Apprentice and the Institute of Directors in New Zealand. Now UK Government Investments and Board Apprentice are working together with 30% Club to make the scheme more widely available across the public and private sectors.

The scheme is aimed at FTSE 350 companies, SMEs and other major organisations. Each organisation involved hosts a participant on their own Board and in return puts forward an employee of their own to be placed on another participating Board. Several major companies and well-known public sector bodies have already signed up to take part in the scheme, including 30% Club members, Aviva and Hammerson, as well as the Student Loans Company and UK Government Investments.

Further information can be found on the 30% Club website.

This scheme has the potential to significantly grow the talent pipeline of women executives by giving women 12 months’ experience on a major board.

This scheme has the potential to significantly grow the talent pipeline of women executives by giving women 12 months’ experience on a major board.

Of the men and women completing a survey of mental health issues in rural Scotland 67% reported suffering depression and 22% admitted to suicidal thoughts and feelings.