Live webchat with Harriet Harman MP on Tues Nov 25th 1-2pm

[HelenMumsnet]

We're pleased to announce that, as part of our ongoing Home Front debate, we've invited Harriet Harman MP to drop by MNHQ for a live webchat on Tuesday November 25th at 1pm.

As well as being Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the House of Commons, Harriet is Secretary of State for Equalities and Minister for Women.

Please join us to put your questions to Harriet on anything from the Government's plans for flexible working to Gordon's performance in the present economic crisis.

And, as usual, you're welcome to post any questions here in advance if you can't make it on the day.

You seriously think that tax credits is enough to enable one parent to stay at home? If you are lucky enough to have twins like me you only get an amount per birth not per child. that is unfair and i have had to stay at home because i cant afford childcare in London. we are not entitled to the child care element. as i said earlier this would not be the case if we had not got married. How is this fair. dont you think you are discouraging people from getting married. do you really believe that all those parents who claim to be single parents really are?

Harriet

after the chat is over please would you log on from home and read the special needs, lone parents and other sections? There's so much of life on here and your Government could learn so much.

Every week there seems to be some article or report on the shortage of Neonatal nurses and the difficulties in retention of staff in neonatal units.

I have over 10 years experience as a Neonatal Nurse and although I am currently working, I will soon have to give up a career that I enjoy.

This is because I have 2 young children and it is becoming increasingly difficult to do the 12.5 hour shifts that I have to work and arrange child care.

My husband and I, unfortunately do not have the ability to share child care. He is in the armed forces and out of the next 16 months, will be away for 12 months.

Some employers say that they offer flexible working but then when this is requested, employees are then informed that it is not in the interests of the service to offer flexible working arrangements.

What can the Government do to help families in a similar situation as ours?

Surely immigration has a greater part to play in this than anyone else?

These people are arriving here - most likely illegally, and clearly not being processed properly, or followed up properly.

I dont feel you have answered my question with regard to women staying at home.

Could you also address my other 3 points please?

Pooty Applewater and Candlewax and Needmore coffee.....The whole attitude to disabled people is changing - at long last. And it starts with a recognition that - like all children - disabled children have a right to acheive their full potential. And that means a big focus on education for children with special needs. And we're going to strengthen the law to ensure that all public agencies, like local authorities and health services make sure that they are doing everything possible for disabled people in their communities and as employers as well. I do think it's worth contacting your local councillor if you are not getting the services or choices that you need for your or your child.
When it comes to heating - the financial support for disabled people is set at a level to include costs like heating. And disabled people can get free help with insulation to cut their heating costs.

The finally parting will be

"we will listen and we will learn"

soundbite of the decade

Should also add, we don't qualify for tax credits and we can not afford for me to stay at home.

This is especially true after the pre budget announcement. The more you earn, the greater the penalty.

As for Tax Credits - I'm not currently receiving any. This is because of a monumental cock up nearly 5 years ago now that means I've been paying off a whopping 4k overpayment that HMRC made that wasnt my fault. THey verified it twice. It got spent. Then they asked for it back. I appealed against it. Twice. They refused. So, no, I cant access tax credits to assist with our earnings, and, lets face it a joint income of 20k in London vs a joint income of 20k in lincolnshire or such like is a completely different kettle of fish.

Harriet - I've met and spoken with Joan Ryan with regard to the Special Educational Needs in our area. She has told me that I need to keep chasing up services, and that there is a lack of Speech Therapists nationwide. There is not a great deal more I CAN do if the staff are not there to carry out the work, is there?

you canot get help wth insulation in the private rented sector if your landlord isn't interested, compel landlords to take up these offers and you might get somewhere!

'a big focus on education for children with special needs'

my 5 year old son had to be at te level of lying in the corner crying i school for the lea to even consider a move to special school which could yet take months, just getting a statement for him (then on verbal) meant my lib dem AM personally following up every step; our Labour MP refused to help, none of his business!

special needs kids are falling through every step of the education system.

Completely agree peachy and herbie.

pat

Couldnt agree more peachy. The funds just arent there - along with staff and facilities, despite everyone involved wanting to be able to help.

Hi Harriet,

If looking to help parents take time out of work to care for their children, why not consider additional financial help to parents, ie. for a 2 parent family both working parents have the option to use pre-tax income to purchase vouchers to pay for nursery care, why not reduce the amount of tax 1 of the working parents must pay to perhaps allow the other parent to stay home and care for the child? Or increase child tax credits period?

DH and I are both professionals earning decent wages(well above the minimum), but having no savings to fall back on, I was forced to return to work when DD reached 9 months... Sadly, the £450/month or so we'd need for me to stay home isn't there. And in looking at the fact that fully 1/3 of my monthly wages go to childcare, I feel like I'm working to pay for others to raise my child. Doesn't exactly help the PND.

And I imagine others fall in a similar middle gap - neither too wealthy nor too poor to have much of a choice about childcare/working.

Hi Harriet,
Thanks so much for coming on. Can I as what you would do if you ruled the world? (In one paragraph)

Thanks.

Don't miss the John Lewis sale

well said cali. The way the government has done it is that you are financially better off as single parent on a low wage. free school dinners, free uniforms, paid housing, discounted childcare. why would you work a 40 hr week, miss out on assemblies and spending time with your kids when you could get paid to do nothing. i know alot of single parents are genuine but if the government didnt make this sound good we wouldnt have so many single parents and the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in europe!

Soapbox and AuraofDora, We must not let the global down turn in the economy be a "nail in the coffin of equality of opportunity for women". Women's pay is important to them and their family. so we need to protect women in work every bit as much as we protect men. and when the global upturn ends - and grim as the situation is it will not go on forever - we need to ensure that women as well as men are there, in the workforce, with the skills and qualifications they - and the economy - need. And we will be backing up women in small businesses too. We need more women to be making a go of it in their own businesses. I know that many women start their own business because it can be more flexible than working for an employer. We don't agree with the line of argument that equality is a luxury that you can only "afford in good times". As a senior executive of the CBI said to me yesterday "it doesn't cost anything to be fair and not discriminate". And prejudices is wasteful and stupid as well as unfair.
And, Phantom of the Chocolate Cake Avena (mad name but very sensible point!) it is not the case that women are not as bright or as hard working or as well-educated as men. yet they are paid so much less. this is discrimination. and there shouldn't be a "parent penalty" whereby people who work shorter hours because they are caring for children get penalised by lower pay and opportunities. caring for children is important and working mothers should be respected not subjected to discrimination.

That's exactly my scenario rockingaround.

i have to work, and although I do get childcare vouchers, they save me £17 a week on childcare that actually costs me £75 for a minder to have DS from 9.15am adn then drop him at pre-school for 1pm. I only work 4.5 hours a day. It cuts my salary in half and I am therefore earning less than the minimum wage - much less, in fact.

As a positive can I say thank you for the improvements in maternity there have been; I had my first child less than two years into this Government and was forced financially back to work at 9 weeks postpartum after being compelled to start leave at 37 weeks pg through health; the changes for my most recent child, 7 months, are amazing.

Also thanks for the right to flexible work for parents- the only way my dh could manage working and helping me with care for our disabled duo.

Swedes....John Bercow is my choice - but naming him will probably ruin his career in tbe Tory party. But really i'd prefer Anton DuBec...is that possible instead of a Tory MP?