2013-05-24T01:17:29-04:00 Maria Miller http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=maria-miller Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Maria Miller Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3305677 2013-05-20T08:01:06-04:00 2013-05-20T08:29:42-04:00

Maria Miller http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-miller/
There has been a lot of debate on our proposed changes, and about what is the nature of marriage. Over the centuries our society has changed enormously. But marriage - because of its ability to evolve as our times have - has remained a bedrock of our lives. Many of us have been part of the wedding celebrations of friends and family, and many of us have excitedly planned our own weddings. It is a common experience across our country yet, as things stand, some couples cannot commit to each other and celebrate their commitment in this way, simply because they love someone of the same sex.

There is no doubt about the fundamental value that we place upon marriage and its role at the heart of our society. Marriage embodies the principles of love, loyalty and commitment - all vital components of a strong society. Marriage brings stability and it binds us together. It makes our families stronger.

And it is those principles that we are championing through the Equal Marriage Bill which continues its journey through Parliament tonight. Over the last few months there have been many contributions from both sides of the debate. I have listened carefully, responded to allay concerns and laid amendments to avoid doubt. I still believe, absolutely, that what we are doing is right. I simply don't believe that in this day and age we can argue that same sex couples should be excluded from the institution of marriage.

I do not believe that our legislation holds any threat for those who feel differently to me on this issue. The new legislation will not marginalise those who believe that marriage is between a man and a woman, it will not discriminate against those in faith schools who teach that marriage is between a man and a woman and it will not force priests, imams or rabbis to conduct same sex marriages against their wishes.

This proposal recognises, respects and values the very important role that faith plays in our lives. There are many people whose religious beliefs mean that they don't feel comfortable with marriage being available to same-sex couples. We have always been absolutely clear that being able to follow your faith openly is a vital freedom in this country, and one that we will protect. It is a freedom that our country is renowned for. We will continue to oppose vigorously any attempt to undermine the long-held freedom that religions have in this country to preach, teach and put into practice their beliefs about marriage.

As we have progressed our legislation, questions have been raised about whether we should also extend civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples. I do not believe this is the right thing to do - and neither do Stonewall or the Church of England. I have been clear that this Bill is about extending marriage to same-sex couples and correcting something that is fundamentally unfair. But I know that there are strong views on both sides of this debate and we have listened to those views. We are therefore offering an opportunity to have a review of this area after the legislation has passed, rather than legislating now without any evidence.

Our plans are based on the fundamental values and principles which bind us together as a society. I remain of the view that, far from being a radical departure, equal marriage is simply one more in a long line of reforms which have strengthened marriage, ensuring it remains as relevant to our society as it ever was. It will make a real difference in the lives of thousands of people and we should be proud that we now live in a society which makes it possible.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3146535 2013-04-24T09:23:36-04:00 2013-04-24T09:36:54-04:00

Maria Miller http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-miller/
It almost goes without saying that the arts have an intrinsic value - the 'arts for arts sake' argument has been made countlessly and convincingly. But, clearly we are living in tough times - and we therefore need to make sure that the incredible instrumental potential of culture is both appreciated and maximised. In our global race, I believe that British culture is perhaps our greatest product. Simply put, our culture is the standard bearer for the UK; for our ability to have an impact on other nations; to compete for tourists; and to trade abroad.

Our cultural and creative excellence is recognised all around the world. This recognition allows us to project 'soft power' abroad, helping build relationships which will facilitate diplomacy and trade. The arts help us fly the flag for Britain, which is a key part of attracting investment and promoting exports which drive jobs and opportunities here at home.

Our culture is also a tremendous draw for visitors - 40 per cent of tourists to the UK cite culture and heritage as the main reason for their visit. Some say that argument only works in relation to London, but that's simply not true. Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture, for instance, attracted almost 10million extra visitors to the city, and those visitors spent more than £700million extra in local businesses and communities.

With such obvious local benefits it should be no surprise that, as I write, we have 11 contenders in the running to become the UK's City of Culture in 2017. In each of those cities, local authorities, local businesses and local arts organisations understand the fundamental role that the arts and culture can play in their communities.

Regional theatres such as the Anvil, in my constituency, stimulate growth and investment locally and there are national organisations which do the same internationally. It is a combination of these that enables Britain's cultural identity to thrive, its entrepreneurs to succeed and its artists to develop.

And we mustn't forget that much of this country's creative talent is, at some stage, nurtured by public investment of taxpayers' money. Public funding for the cultural sector provides support and offers certainty, and we are committed to continuing that investment. We therefore reformed the way lottery funding is distributed, meaning more funding will go directly to the arts. In total, nearly three billion pounds will be distributed by Arts Council England over the lifetime of this Parliament, with £1billion in Lottery funding and almost £2billion in direct government funding.

However, I believe that it is a mix of public subsidy, philanthropic investment, and commercial income which should be the funding model we aim for as we seek to create long term sustainability. I know that is easier said than done - and it should be seen as a long term ambition rather than a short term sticking plaster. However, it can and should be done to protect the arts in the long term.

Across the country, and throughout our communities, creativity flourishes. There is no doubt that socially, economically and educationally the arts help us thrive. The question in my mind is how best we enable them to do that in this economic environment. As I have said, times are tough, but our commitment to the arts is unwavering. Through a mixture of targeted funding and encouraging innovation there is no question that the arts will continue to give Britain one of its greatest platforms from which to exhibit our unique identity in an ever more fiercely competitive world.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2829702 2013-03-07T19:00:00-05:00 2013-05-07T05:12:01-04:00

Maria Miller http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-miller/
Earlier this week my colleague, Justine Greening, the Development Secretary announced that Britain will increase its support for women and girls in the poorest countries to give them more choice and control over their lives.

This included funding for the Leadership for Change Programme, which takes a pioneering approach that will support the leadership skills and opportunities of more than 50,000 women and girls across the world.

We're also supporting projects which will deliver more contraceptives to help avert around 2.6 million unintended pregnancies and prevent more than 4,500 deaths during pregnancy and childbirth.

International Women's Day is also an opportunity for us to reflect on the vital role women are playing in our own society, be it in business, education, entertainment, public service or in the home.

Over the coming week I will be hosting a series of meetings and attending a number of events on the theme of Women and Growth; from talking about the barriers faced by women starting up in business, to attending a Science Museum event encouraging more girls to consider careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

And this all comes at a time when there are more women working in this country than ever before, and they are proving to be the engine room of this country's economic growth.

This historic high means that two-thirds of all women are now employed. In fact during the last quarter of 2012, the rise in employment overall was largely driven by the number of women coming back to the workplace.

Coupled with this is the news that the gender pay gap is decreasing so we are making progress but to reduce the gap further we have implemented measures to make pay secrecy clauses unlawful. We are also enabling Tribunals to order employers to conduct a pay audit, where an employer has been found to discriminate.

When it comes to women in the workplace we need to make sure that not only do we improve the female representation that we see on boards but that the pipeline for those senior positions is strong and effective - promoting the best and giving real opportunity.

To help ensure that this is the case we are spearheading greater transparency and equality in the workplace. Through our Think, Act, Report initiative, large employers are being encouraged to examine their recruitment, retention and remuneration policies. Already over 70 large employers - representing more than a million employees - such as Marks & Spencer, EDF Energy and Deloitte have signed up.

More is to come. We have established the Women's Business Council, which will make recommendations on how the talent of our women can be unlocked and allowed to flourish further, which will benefit our economy.

Finally, as a working mother, I know that one of the main challenges for women returning to work after starting a family is the cost of childcare. To address this, we are extending free childcare to those women who work less than 16 hours a week, and increasing the entitlement to free education and care for three and four year olds to 15 hours a week. By 2015, shared parental leave will also be available, to enable mothers and fathers to jointly share the load.

As I said at the start, International Women's Day is a good time for us to reflect on where we are on our journey, but the work to improve women's lives both here and overseas must continue 365 days a year.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.2300655 2012-12-14T09:57:12-05:00 2013-02-13T05:12:01-05:00

Maria Miller http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-miller/
But it's an institution that isn't open for everyone. As things currently stand it is restricted to uniting men and women. Same-sex couples, no matter however long-standing and loving their relationship may be, need not apply. We believe that is wrong and we'll be introducing legislation early in the New Year to change it - and I'm proud to be the minister that will do that.

Many people choose to-day to have a civil wedding and under our proposals there will no longer be any bar to same sex couples enjoying exactly the same rights as opposite sex couples. That is a huge change which will bring joy to many same sex couples who simply want to say: "I'm married and here is my husband/wife."

But some gay people want a wedding in church. I was talking about 'walking down the aisle' a moment ago. Let me be utterly clear: under our plans no religious organisation will ever be compelled to conduct same sex marriage ceremonies. The concern that we will is completely unfounded. Crucially, we have created a 'quadruple lock', putting into law clear and unambiguous protections. Yet, while it is right that we create those protections for those that don't want to conduct same-sex marriages, we must remember that there are religious organisations that do want to open their doors to gay couples. And for those that do, we must let them.

I think it's also important to talk about what this means for our established church, the Church of England. We had a number of detailed discussions with the Church of England as we drew up our proposals and will continue to speak to them in the coming weeks. The point to remember is that all religious organisations would be able to opt-in and conduct same sex marriages, if they so choose, including the Church of England. As the established church, the Church of England, has a duty in law to marry any couple living in the local parish, regardless of their religious affiliation. The same is true of the Church in Wales. However, the Church of England's has its own law, Canon Law, which is made by its own governing body, the Synod. That law explicitly defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

We have been very clear that we will protect religious organisations that do want to conduct same sex marriage and as things stand that includes the Church of England. Therefore, we have to provide a specific legal protection for the Church of England to ensure that its 'duty to marry' applies only to opposite-sex couples. If we didn't do this the Church could have been vulnerable to legal challenge, and we have been clear that would be unacceptable.

These protections don't mean that the Church of England will never be able to conduct same sex marriages, far from it. If they change their minds at a later date, and change their teaching, doctrine and Canon Law then that is up to them.

The key to these proposals is balance - between protecting those organisations that don't want to while allowing those that do. Our protections put beyond doubt that religious institutions can be legally challenged if they chose not to conduct same sex marriages. They mean that neither a future government nor a European Court ruling can subvert our intentions without the most fundamental of constitutional changes.

People have argued that same sex marriage is not an issue that should be addressed now, that the government has more pressing concerns, such as the economy. However I believe that we can't put issues of fairness and freedom on a backburner, that is not what we as a government or I as an individual am about.

Others have said that there is no need for same-sex marriage as civil partnerships address this inequality. But civil partnerships are not the same as civil marriages. Although both carry many of the same legal benefits there are important differences. We have a different understanding and perceptions of what it is to be married and the responsibilities that brings. Civil partnerships are not thought of in the same way. The latter just requires a register to be signed, the former - vows exchanged. Marriage is a public declaration, a cause for celebration.

Marriage has had a history of change and reform and that history continues with these proposals. Before too long all couples will have the right to marry. Marriage is the bedrock of our society. We are opening it up because being gay is not a good enough reason for the State to exclude people from it.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.2122151 2012-11-13T19:00:00-05:00 2013-01-13T05:12:01-05:00

Maria Miller http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-miller/
But, although there are more women in work than ever before, there are still real barriers to women entering and progressing in work. And this is not just about focusing on boardrooms, and encouraging more female faces there. It's just as important to work on how things are in everyday families, and what women are doing to balance their financial needs and career aspirations with family life.

Whenever women get together to talk about the prospect of going back to work after having had a baby, it's a fair bet that the one worry that unites them all, regardless of their background or circumstances, will be a single question: what am I going to do about childcare?

And I stress the first person singular in this because, for all the advances that have taken place in modern relationships, this remains one question that pretty well always falls to the mother to resolve. And if it's not sorted out to the mother's satisfaction, then it very often becomes a show-stopper for the whole return to work issue. If a mother can't be as close to 100 per cent sure that her child is safe and well cared for, her chances of working effectively can dwindle to nothing.

And for every woman - and there are far too many, I fear - that ends up abandoning the world of work because there are just no childcare options available, other than mum staying at home, there can all too often be another missed opportunity for personal fulfilment. Which is not to denigrate or dismiss stay-at-home mums. It's having the choice that makes the difference. And it's not having the choice that stifles ambition.

So a big priority for me as Secretary of State in the government with responsibility for women and equality, has been to see what can be done to address this. I'm beginning with a new £2 million scheme to provide grants to help people wanting to set up a nursery or child-minding business in England. From next April, grants of up to £500 will be available to help cover things like legal and insurance costs, training, equipment and adaptations to premises.

This could lead to as many as 6,000 more childcare businesses getting off the ground. And this could be an especially neat win-win, because the businesses themselves will provide jobs themselves, as well as helping to get their clients back to work. And the great majority of the new jobs created in the sector will, on past experience, go to women.

Another thing I like about this kind of solution is that it goes with the grain of how people - and not just women - prefer to operate. There's no compulsion in it, no externally imposed requirement that puts a burden on businesses which, in many cases, are finding it hard simply to keep their heads above water. The grants will complement people's drive and initiative as they set up childcare businesses, and help provide a genuine and much-needed service for employees and employers alike.

But the wider point here, as I said at the beginning of this piece, is to do with the position that women occupy in our society as a whole and in the workplace in particular. We're serious about this and our childcare business grant initiative comes on top of a package of measures that the Government is taking forward to boost childcare, including extending the right to request flexible working to all employees and allowing parents to share up to a year's leave to care for their new born child.

So we're on the way to creating the conditions in which a truly fair and equal society can exist. There's much still to do, and I can't wait to get on with it.]]>