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Small Religious Organisations: Safeguarding
02 March 2026
Lead MP
Sam Carling
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
NHSWomen & Equalities
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Sam Carling raised concerns about small religious organisations: safeguarding in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Sam Carling raised concerns about the Government's proposal to introduce mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse, which he argued has been significantly watered down from IICSA's recommendations. He highlighted the need for proper sanctions for non-compliance, inclusion of reasonable suspicion, and wider coverage to include religious leaders with unsupervised contact with children. He also discussed the issue of shunning in religious organisations, tax exemptions, and the need for a review of charity law. Additionally, he touched upon safeguarding and coercion in medical settings within religious organisations.
Acknowledged the hon. Member's concerns and expressed support for the need to comply with IICSA recommendations.
Government Response
The Minister thanked Sam Carling for securing the debate and acknowledged the Government's commitment to safeguarding and protecting children and adults from harm across all settings, including religious organisations. She highlighted the measures being taken through the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. The Minister addressed specific points raised, including the support for the Government's mandatory reporting duty from key stakeholders and the Government's view on the threshold for the duty. She also mentioned the Charity Commission’s approach to regulation and plans to give it additional powers to tackle extremist abuse. The Minister confirmed that she would liaise with the Department of Health and Social Care on medical coercion issues.
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Assessment & feedback
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.