Lynne Featherstone, MP

The Greens have written a letter to the equalitites minister. Lynn Featherstone, inviting her to Brighton to witness firsthand the disproportionate effects of government cuts against women. The move comes after a response from the minister to a Green motion to council which argued that government cuts to services, public sector jobs and welfare were disproportionately affecting women.

The motion can be viewed at:
http://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=36355
 
Cllr Steph Powell, who proposed the original motion, commented:
“It’s clear that women are going to be the worst off from the government’s decisions, and this is shown in their own analysis.
 
“Women make up two thirds of the public sector workforce, and often have low-paid and part-time jobs. They are being hammered from all sides, thanks to public sector job cuts, pension changes, welfare cuts, tax credit changes, housing funding, and changes to legal aid.
 
“It’s a bit rich for Lynne Featherstone to try and blame councils. We’ve done our bit and protected our domestic violence services for example. But the bigger picture is that the government’s actions elsewhere are putting women in very vulnerable situations.
 
“We invite her to come down to Brighton and Hove and see the wonderful work of frontline organisations such as Brighton Women’s Centre in my ward and RISE, both of whom are seeing a marked increase in women needing help as a result of this government’s decisions.”
 
Lynne Featherstone's response reads:
"Thank you for you letter of 5 January 2-12 on behalf of Mr John Barradell, CEO of Brighton & Hove City council, Kings House, Grand Avenue, Hove, Sussex, BN3 2LS, about how Government decisions on dealing with the deficit affect women.
 
"The Government has had to make difficult decisions in dealing with the deficit, but I can assure you that we are very committed to making sure that the spending cuts are shared fairly and that the most vulnerable are protected, including women and their families.
 
"For example, on childcare, the Spending Review maintained free early education for all 3 and 4 year olds, and extended this to all disadvantaged 2 year olds from 2012-13. We have also announced an extra £300 million for childcare support under Universal Credit to support families that work less than 16 hours a week. This is in top of the £2 billion already spent under the current system, and it will allow around 80,000 additional families to benefit from childcare support.
 
"Mr Barradell mentions support for the women and girls that are victims of violence. We would be very concerned to hear that domestic violence services were being cuts and we have made clear that local authorities must not see the voluntary sector as an ‘easy cut’ when making difficult decisions. Both the Home Office and Minister of Justice have been made available long term funding for specialist services for victims of domestic and sexual violence – something the previous administration failed to do – and we have strongly encouraged local areas to follow our lead.
 
"In addition the Government has made a number of wider commitments which will benefit working families, including women. For example, we are lifting 1.1 million of the lowest paid workers out of income tax altogether, more than half of whom are women.
 
"We are also taking a range of measure to promote equal pay and end discrimination in the workplace. For instance we have consulted on proposals to extend the right to request flexible working and on a new system of flexible parental leave, as well as measures to encourage equal pay for equal work between men and women. In addition, employers are now being asked to help tackle the gender pay gap by publishing equality data about their workforce on a voluntary basis. This will increase transparency and support employers in identifying any equality issues and encourage them to take appropriate action.
 
"I hope this reassures you that the government is committed to progressing gender equality and ensuring that the impact of deficit reduction plans is shared fairly."
Lynne Featherstone MP
 

Cllr Stephanie Powell

Cllr Powells letter of invitation read:
"I write as the Green councillor on Brighton & Hove City Council who proposed the council motion behind this correspondence.
 
"While your response to our motion addresses some individual government schemes, I feel that they are dwarfed by the broader effects of your government’s cuts - particularly the cumulative impact different decisions have upon the same people.
 
"I’m proud to say that here in Brighton & Hove, despite a cut of a third of our formula grant over three years the Green-led council has managed to protect services for domestic violence, and protect a huge majority of jobs in the organisation.
 
"But women are being affected on all sides – all the evidence shows they’re more likely to be made redundant by public sector job cuts, lose out under pension changes, hit by welfare cuts, and unable to flee domestic violence or abusive relationships as a result of changes to legal aid. These are just some examples of many.
 
"The local authority and other agencies in the city have to pick up the pieces. I recently met with Brighton Women’s Centre and RISE – two local charities who work on the frontline, and they’ve both seen a marked rise in women needing help.
 
"I’d like to invite you to visit Brighton & Hove to discuss these issues further and meet with organisations who deal with them."
 
Cllr Steph Powell
Green councillor, Brighton & Hove City Council