Speeches by Duffield.

“One tiny last question: Bridget, have you or any of the other Ministers engaged with the sex equality and equity network—the SEEN groups—across the civil service?”

“Anneliese, I am going to focus on employment law, which you have said is your area. Obviously, there is no way we can comment on current cases, but you will be aware of the tribunal involving nurse Sandie Peggie, and the Darlington nurses’ case. Do you agree that they have important implications for the operation of si…”

“Does the Minister believe that the NHS should expect biologically female nursing staff to get changed in front of biologically male colleagues who identify as female?”

“Earlier you touched on the Online Safety Act and you have mentioned the police. I get death threats—I would guess more than most people here—probably at least a few a year and I then have to turn to the police, but anyone can say anything they want about wanting to kill me on social media because they do not like my vi…”

“Yes, “Or to prevent those who hold beliefs that the law recognises as protected from expressing themselves.” What would your recommendation to those groups be, for them to be able to operate without other groups trying to ban them?”

“I want to move on to your work on freedom-restricting harassment. Could you just give a really brief summary or definition for those in the audience and at home who are not aware of what that means?”

“You mentioned NGOs, and in section 2.4 of your report you mentioned the case of Mermaids v. the Charity Commission and LGB Alliance. Basically, they did not agree with each other and essentially one charity was trying to ban the freedom of another. You said that there was, “No legal right to be free from criticism by t…”

“In your opinion, how does that particular thing directly impact social cohesion?”

“Q10. Since 2012, the Drax power station has been given £7 billion of green subsidies by the Government for burning 27 million trees per year. That is enough money for five years of pensioners’ winter fuel payments. While Ofgem has been asleep at the wheel, a recent KPMG report has concluded that Drax claimed those subs…”

“21. What steps her Department is taking through the criminal justice system to help tackle violence against women and girls.”

“Dr Beaumont, I have seen that you have done a lot of work on disability, and you touched on it earlier. How do you think that those other protected characteristics, such as race and disability, interact with the sexist discrimination in the music industry?”

“This one is directly to Celeste. What are the everyday ways in which women working in the industry experience prejudice? That might be a really hard one to answer.”

“I was totally engrossed in that. This is for Dr Beaumont but anyone who wants to can contribute: to what extent do you think that misogyny in music can be reduced by having more women, including women of colour, in senior leadership roles?”

“Last week, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner found that just 5% of reported domestic abuse results in a conviction. Does the Minister share my concerns that lengthy investigations into non-crime hate incidents are potentially diverting vital resources from the criminal justice system and from prosecuting actual violence …”

“In your experience, how much control do women in the music industry have over their appearance, image, and how they are marketed compared to men? I would be interested to hear particularly from Celeste and Lucy on that.”

“Thank you for being so honest. Dr Beaumont, you have previously published data showing that 70% of black women have felt the need to change something about themselves to be accepted in the industry, like lightening their skin. Do these pressures still exist today, and if so, can you explain why and how they can be tack…”

“Lucy, would you say it is similar in the classical sector?”

“This section is probably mostly for Allia and Raheel, but anyone can contribute. What are the barriers faced by Muslim women who want to participate in sport, would you say?”

“We have all our paperwork, we have some really good examples, such as Khadija Mellah, the jockey. It is not the sort of thing that you normally see in the media, is it? And women training as lifeguards, because all the lifeguards were usually traditionally men. It seems like there is a bit of progress being made. How d…”

“Schools and organisations need to talk to those groups of women and understand some of the issues?”