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.

Doobydoo. No,far from it. he has helped by having an unreasonable beleif in my abilities!

you have said nothing to convince me that i would be better off working rather than staying at home. how can you convince me that I am wrong?

Yes, but dont you think that equality for women should also mean respecting what women do in bringing up children and managing a household?

Family units are being spread out and split up to enable women to work because they feel less respected if they dont work - particularly if they are part of a couple.

Home life and community are so important and are a huge factor in the higher level of crime, violence, drug abuse etc that we are experiencing nowadays.

Soapbox, I'm not Miss because I'm married, I'm not Mrs Harman because that's not my husband's name....so it's Ms. And my husband is still Mr!

here,s me, late as usual. Dear Harriet, thanks for replying. But you are wrong at the level of DLA being sufficent. Its not steretchy yet is meant to cover extra heating, unusual diets (dd is on the ketogenic), extra travel - we can't get on buses as they are not wheelchair accessible - equipment that the NHS either wont supply or takes so long you give up and buy it yourself plus childcare for your other children when your child is rushed into hospital. The list is endless.
We need winter fuel payments for families with disabled children and disbaled adults.
I'm sat here wearing my coat cos its so cold and I can't afford to put the heating on. dd aged 4 with spastic quadraplegic cerebral palsy is wearing 4 layers and has gloves and a hat on. Indoors. Thats disgusting.

oh, and carers allowance is pathetic. Hubby had to go part time to help me care for dd. He loses 3/4 of his income, we get £55 a week for 24 hours of caring, 7 days a week. If we parked her in residnetial care it would cost the Govt £100,000 a year.
You'd be in serious trouble if all the carers said 'we've had enough'

Soapbox...When i was younger I was told not to appear too bright or i would never get a husband because men would be intimidated by my brain! then as soon as i became an MP they said i was thick! Best to be thick skinned....

but I do thank the Govt for Child Tax Credit. My first 3 children were born in the 90's under Tories and there was no help for the low paid. I think CTC is wonderful and it has made an enormous difference (except for the heating which we can't afford)

Would you acknowledge that from reading the posts here- carers desperate to work and other mums desperate to be at home- the key isn't to dictate what route people take but to facillitate choices that allow famillies to find the solutions that work for them?

(apologies for typing- baby in arms again)

Secretary of State for Equalities...didn't realise that. Why is the DDA so toothless? Was it designed that way deliberately?

If dd keeps me awake one more night the govt might find I do give up 4 years without sleep and counting....

Are you deliberately just answering the easy questions! I thought this was our chance to have a discussion with you about the important things affecting our lives!

Maybe you should sign up for Strictly

And when the ILs get my honorative wrong, I shall now say that if Ms is good enough for you, its good enough for me ?

Answers/views on b/feeding please

sunshineakindat
I don't want to convince you about anything. i just want to ensure that you have the choices you want. that means that there needs to be good quality childcare which you can afford so if you do go out to work you are not tearing your hair out. And you can take time out after having a baby without haveing to throw in your job if you don't want to. and we need employers to be more flexible so that they recognise that most of the women they employ are someone's mother too...

I think it would be helpful if the guests brought along folk who can type so they could answer more than half a dozen questions.

'He loses 3/4 of his income, we get £55 a week for 24 hours of caring, 7 days a week. '

yes, absolutely

If I could sort childcare I would like to go and teach a shortage subject and pay taxes, a win-win scenario for the whole Country surely?

but my ds's can only access proprely organised childcare for disabled children- and there is none. Why? And why am I being penalised for this with £50 a week income that is also taxed by tax credits?

I've never seen any free help with insulation costs. WarmFront will not insulate a roof that doesn't have a loft. So we have a layer of tiles and some plaster board above my bedroom and its cold. Right now its about 5 C up there. Tonight when the temp drops me and dd will sleep in a bedroom that is roughly at freezing level.
I challnened our MP to come and feel how cold it is in my house but he was too chicken. Maybe Miss harmen would agree to come see for herself.

men don't need a Minister. They been in charge for centuries

Why is their no student loan or financial help for Masters Degrees? This means only rich people can go on to do a Masters.
probably the plan to stop us lowly types getting uppity.

so you didnt read my previous posts then??!! I dont havethe choices i want! As a teacher it is very difficult to get a part time job and achieve a work life balance. if i go back to work i will loose my tax credits and i wont be able to afford childcare anyway. there is no good quality childcare near me. the only one with spaces is asking for £130 for a minimum of 3 days. The sums dont add up. Cant you see that?

I have just copied my earlier posts as I was hoping for a response!

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?

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.