Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question follows a general discussion on the Government's approach to tackling hate crimes, including recent legislative initiatives.
I welcome the Minister’s comments and the Government’s violence against women and girls strategy. However, misogyny runs deeper in society, damaging women through attitudes and actions online and offline. As we focus on prevention and tackling harassment, will the Minister outline the position on misogyny becoming a hate crime?
A review is being undertaken by Lord Ken Macdonald KC, who is looking at hate crime legislation in the round. We want to wait for his recommendations before the Home Secretary makes decisions on whether misogyny should be a hate crime.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific question about making misogyny a hate crime was not directly answered with a commitment or timeline.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP references recent reports of users of the social media platform X creating sexualised images using AI tools, which are harmful to women.
I welcome the Government’s commitment to tackling misogyny but am disgusted by reports of users on social media platforms like X being able to create sexualised images, including of children, through an AI tool named Grok. What conversations are Ministers having across Government to ensure that we clamp down on this vile practice?
We take the issue seriously. The Home Secretary launched a violence against women and girls strategy, and we are working across Government with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to address this issue.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific question about conversations and actions was not fully answered with concrete commitments or timelines.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP highlights concerns raised by women's rights groups over self-swab rape kits, which are used to collect evidence but have no legal standing in court.
Women disproportionately suffer from hate crimes online. Companies now offer self-swab rape kits with promises of deterring rapists, yet these kits are offensive and shift responsibility onto victims instead of the perpetrators. A case has already collapsed due to reliance on such kits. Rape charities have asked for their ban for over a year. Will the Government work with me to commit to banning self-swab rape kits?
We share concerns with law enforcement and healthcare professionals about the use of self-swabbing rape kits. We are considering this matter carefully but have not yet committed to a specific ban.
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Assessment & feedback
The request for a commitment to ban self-swab rape kits was not directly answered with a concrete decision or timeline.
Response accuracy