Live online chat with The Rt Hon Beverley Hughes MP, Minister for Children, on Thursday 24th May 1-2pm

[carriemumsnet]

Hi all

Ok this is your chance to have your say about what, in an ideal world, you'd like to happen to childcare, nurseries and pre-schools (as well as debate what's happening in the sometimes non ideal world). The Rt Hon Beverley Hughes, Minister for Children and mum of three, will be joining us for a lunchtime chat on Thursday 24th May, so bring your sarnies, get your questions ready and join us then. For those of you who have unavoidable lunchtime commitments (and letters from your mum to prove it) we'll let you post your questions in advance here. For the rest of you, we'll see you on the 24th.

she has had ages to prepare or rather her researchers have. And if they had researched properly then they should have known that a load of bland, meaningless soundbites would not sit well with MNetters ... i still cannot get over the chirpy "good luck" sign off ....

Sometimes its not WHAT you say but what you DONT say.

Is she busy tomorrow? Perhaps she could pop back then?

and with a swat of the hand, we're dealt with

Carrie, an hour is not long enough, but she had from 17th May to answer some of them. One in particular.

I hope that she gets my CAT.

And I hope that she has a long, hard think about why the Government "doing all it can to promote and support breastfeeding" is failing so many women and their babies so badly.

It's a disgrace.

I feel a bit sorry for MNTowers, it must be harder and harder to line up a "chat" with an MP when this happens.

The thing is we need answers to so many issues and unless they go away with a few well phrased arguments ringing in their ears over the issues bugging parents, we haven't fulfilled our role as parents or voters.

Why can't politicians talk like real human beings let alone like real parents?

lots of the questions could have had prepared answers leaving her time to deal with questions raised today and then respond to those not dealt with.

Even Pat Fcukwit says she responds to ALL emails.

Well that's made me feel quite depressed

Just want to add to this thread that formula manufacturers spend upwards of £17 per baby born on promoting formula.

The Government spends 80p per baby born promoting breastfeeding.

I realise there's not an unlimited pot of money for promotion of breastfeeding, but the Government could level the playing field by restricting what formula companies are allowed to advertise (starting with banning the "breastfeeding" helplines).

How about a mass exodus to Sweden or Norway or something?

is there not something about this reply which suggests a bit of frantic underwater googling

Wickedwaterwitch any form of domestic violence is unacceptable and intolerable - too often it's a crime which is hidden away. My remit does not cover the family courts but I do work closely with Ministers in the Home Office on domestic violence. On average a victim can go through 35 assaults before it is reported but I do know that £14 million has been invested along with an action plan to help tackle the problem.Domestic Violence: A national report (new window)

There are helplines throughout the UK that can offer you practical help and advice including emergency refuge accommodation, safety planning and advice, translation facilities if you have difficulty communicating in English. The number for the English national domestic violence helpline is 0808 2000247

the reference in the middle to "new window" that is

awful, awful, awful. Done by a research assistant googling on the quick, obviously.

maybe MPs need to look at why they are being scorned with such ferocity then? it was a 'paint by numbers' excercise...nothing more..and agree with hunker..she has had plenty of tiem to research the questions that were posted previously

the children are our future and time and time again, womens choices about birth , feeding their babies, loooking after their babies, are being undermined by lack of resources and this sort of soundbitey lipservice nonsense....which does not reflect the importance of our children

but Grrr, if she'd just come on and said 'yeah, i found bfing really hard, but i managed it (or not)' rather than cut and paste from some policy paper, it might have been a little like talking to a Human Being. i'm sure her kids are old enough anyway for her to dodge out of any of her own government's recent responsibilities. where these 'chats' go pear-shaped is when the person operates as if we're thick.

well spotted zippi am ed

pathetic, pathetic, pathetic

I realise there was only an hour to answer the questions - but I'd have had FAR more respect for her if she'd said,

"Hunkermunker, I don't know enough about the way breastfeeding support works, formula is promoted or midwives and health visitors are trained to answer your questions in full. However, I realise it's extremely important to you, and to all parents, that we get these things right, so instead of dismissing you with a soundbite, I will research this fully and post on mumsnet again when I have an answer for you"

well spotted zippi, although i would also say 'duh, of course'... [depressed beyond belief]

so true.

[email protected]

You can contact her on this email address, btw. (Found on website)

well done, zippi.
and I wonder how many people previewed each reply before BeverleyHughes posted?

lololololololol, yeah, cos i'm sure she'll answer an email in person having ignored us all on a webchat.

Yes, that COULD be my most pointless post ever on MN.

And that is saying something!

Thanks for the sympathy Grrr - yes the next Minister may not be quite so eager to come and have lunch with us following some of those responses - but also agree that it has to be useful for the Government to hear what's bugging parents. I think we can all safely say that they should have a good idea of some of the big issues after today....

Maybe we should start another thread with "what you'd like to see the Government to do about...." just to make sure ?