2023 March

On International Women’s Day I hosted the Royal Society of Chemistry drop-in event in Parliament in the Jubilee Room. Dr Sophia Mitchell from Lab Tots was there to demonstrate a series of experiments which makes Chemistry fun using everyday household ingredients. Many MPs took part in the event including the Science Minister George Freeman MP.

The International Rescue Committee hosted an event for International Women’s Day in Parliament to raise awareness for and to stand with women leading in crises. Women are best positioned to lead during crises and prevent gender-based violence but too often their organisations are shut out of the humanitarian response. 

I attended The ‘Empty Chair’ exhibit today in Parliament in the Upper Waiting area and sponsored by my colleagues Peter Dowd MP and Tobias Ellwood MP which is part of Sue Ryder’s Grief Kind campaign. It aims to equip the nation with the knowledge and tools to meet grief with warmth and acceptance, instead of shying away from open conversations. A key part of this is building awareness of bereavement and grief and creating conversations about how we can better support one another. 

The House considered the Lords amendments to the Public Order Bill. The aim of the Bill is to provide the police with greater powers to respond to disruptive protests. There were 5 votes. Amendment 5 would introduce a new Clause 9 creating an offence of interference with access to or provision of abortion services.

During Health questions today on 7 March I asked a question to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care about the recruitment and retainment of doctors in the NHS. I asked the Minister: