Violence against Women and Girls 2025-11-05
2025-11-05
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Reports indicate that sexual assault and harassment of women and girls on trains has increased by more than a third over the past 10 years, with 2,661 incidents reported in England, Scotland, and Wales last year. One in ten victims were children.
I was concerned to read reports that sexual assault and harassment of women and girls on trains has risen by more than a third over the past 10 years, adding up to 2,661 incidents reported across England, Scotland and Wales last year, with one in ten of them affecting children. Does the Minister agree that this cannot be allowed to continue, and that we must do more to tackle this shocking rise in violence against women and girls?
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. However, there have been recent successful campaigns by British Transport police and the Rail Delivery Group to encourage reporting of offences against women and girls, which we believe has contributed to some of the rise in recorded offences due to increased willingness of victims to come forward and bystanders to report on their behalf. We are not complacent and have announced £17 million of investment to better connect CCTV at train stations to accelerate investigations and identify offenders as quickly as possible.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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The questioner's office has supported numerous constituents who have been failed by the police, social services, family courts, and the Crown Prosecution Service in cases involving coercive control and domestic abuse.
Over the past year, my office and I have supported a depressing number of constituents who have been failed—failed by the police and social services for not listening to reports of coercive control; failed by the family court for not recognising who the victim is; and failed by the Crown Prosecution Service for not proceeding to prosecute cases of domestic abuse because it does not believe the victim to be credible. What steps is the Minister taking with colleagues from across Government to ensure that women are believed and listened to?
We are strengthening the justice system to better support victims by committing to ensure that there are specialist rape and sexual offences teams in every police force. We will also increase the powers of the Victims’ Commissioner through the Victims and Courts Bill, allowing them to hold criminal justice systems accountable and independently scrutinise the victims code of compliance. Additionally, we will ban anyone with a history of violence against women and girls from joining the police force and improve training on coercive and controlling behaviour.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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Survivors of domestic abuse and their children need access to affordable housing, but the local housing allowance covers only a small percentage of private rents in Wales and England.
Survivors of domestic abuse and violence, along with their children, must be able to access affordable housing. The local housing allowance now covers only 1% of private rents in Wales and 2.4% in England. Does the Minister agree that unfreezing LHA and linking it once more to actual local rents is vital to reducing the risk of homelessness for survivors and ensuring that they have the safety of a stable home when fleeing abuse?
I thank my hon. Friend for his passionate plea, and I will take up his suggestions in meetings with relevant authorities. Tier 1 local authorities have a legal requirement to assess and address the need for support within safe accommodation for all domestic abuse victims. The Government have increased funding to £160 million this year—an uplift of £30 million from previous years—to provide further support in safe accommodation for survivors. We will ensure that sufficient suitable support is available locally.
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Q4
Direct Answer
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The questioner met “Loose Women” presenters who discussed their ‘Facing It Together’ programme, aimed at raising awareness and providing resources about domestic abuse.
First, will the Minister support the “Loose Women” in this regard? Secondly, will she support a plan we have hatched to get a poster about it in every GP surgery in this country?
I absolutely do support the “Loose Women” in this regard. I agree that signage in GPs’ surgeries, dentists’ waiting rooms and pubs and clubs are valuable tools to warn the public about signs of domestic abuse and can help point worried individuals to places where they can be helped. We must ensure that such signage is available when needed.
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Q5
Direct Answer
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The questioner had previously asked the Government to consider a private Member’s Bill calling for them to publish a strategy addressing interpersonal abuse and violence against men and boys. The promised publication date has been delayed.
In June I asked the Government to consider my private Member’s Bill calling for them to publish a strategy to tackle interpersonal abuse and violence against men and boys. On 1 September, the Minister told me that the strategy would be published early in the autumn. We are now well past that date. What is causing the delay in the publication of the revised VAWG strategy?
Yes, I can absolutely give the hon. Gentleman that assurance and would be more than happy to meet him to discuss these matters further. The delay is being caused by the fact that the work will be completely cross-governmental; we must ensure that allocations processes in Government Departments are as good as they possibly can be because previous VAWG strategies have not met expectations.
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Q6
Partial Answer
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The west midlands has seen an increase in racially motivated attacks, including rapes of Sikh women. The community is concerned about safety.
Does the Minister agree that there is no place for racial hatred in Britain and these crimes must be punished to the full extent of the law? Can she offer assurances to women and girls in my constituency that they will have full police protection?
I thank my hon. Friend for his concern about racially motivated sexual violence in the west midlands. Some cases are sub judice but charges have been laid. I assure him that I am working closely with organisations to ensure women feel safe, and we will do everything possible along with the police and other agencies.
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Q7
Partial Answer
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Strangulation is common in domestic abuse, with up to two-thirds of women reporting it. The Institute for Addressing Strangulation needs funding certainty beyond March 2024.
The Minister has corresponded about the need for the Institute for Addressing Strangulation to have funding certainty past next March to continue its vital work. Can she tell us what she is doing to make it clear to the Chancellor that sustaining this lifesaving work must be a priority?
I appreciate the hon. Lady's concern and was proud to announce that strangulation in pornography will be made illegal. I can assure her there is no Cabinet Minister unaware of my feelings on spending priorities, but I cannot provide specific assurances regarding funding beyond March 2024 at this time.
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Q8
Partial Answer
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Coercive control can continue long after a relationship ends through manipulation of child maintenance payments.
What steps is the Minister taking with her colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure that the systems work to support survivors rather than enabling perpetrators?
I have seen cases where domestic homicide reviews pointed to failures in the Child Maintenance Service. We are working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure a safer system, but no specific measures are detailed beyond this ongoing work.
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Q9
Partial Answer
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Survivors seeking information on visa status of perpetrators are often unable to obtain it.
Would the Minister consider a measure similar to Clare’s law to allow people to ask UKVI about someone's current visa status?
I understand the hon. Lady’s frustration and will take her recommendations away, as they are quite good ones. The Home Office closely scrutinises such areas and I am committed to considering them seriously.
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Q10
Partial Answer
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There are serious safeguarding concerns linked to abortion pills by post, suggesting potential coercion.
Given the serious safeguarding concerns and reports of coercion linked to abortion pills by post, will she commit to reviewing that policy to ensure women are never put at risk?
I agree that conversations about any changes to abortion legislation will include safeguards. While I am pro-choice, the hon. Lady's concerns are important and will be addressed in ongoing discussions.
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Q11
Partial Answer
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Changes to sentencing laws mean that more than 90% of grooming offenders and 60% of rapists may have their sentences reduced.
Was there an assessment of the impact of those changes on women and girls specifically? Can the Minister point to a single organisation representing women and girls that supports cutting prison time for sexual assault or grooming?
I will check what my hon. Friend the Member for Pontypridd (Alex Davies-Jones) has said regarding those who may be released, as there are exceptions to the changes in sentencing laws. The Minister highlights oversight and care under her government compared to previous ones.
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Q12
Partial Answer
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CARA supports thousands of victims of sexual violence in Essex, concerned about future funding beyond March 2026.
Will the Minister confirm that funding for the rape and sexual abuse support fund and independent sexual violence adviser services will continue beyond March 2026? How will the Government prioritise addressing sexual violence?
Funding for these services was ringfenced last year, but I cannot provide specific guarantees beyond the spending review. As someone with experience in such services, I am confident they will be funded in the future due to their importance.
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