Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Forced Marriage and Child Marriage: Information in Schools

Monday 31 January 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The "Keeping children safe in education" statutory guidance provides a strong safeguarding framework for schools.
  • It sets out the role that all school staff have to play in safeguarding children, including information on forced marriage and signposting to further help.
  • The guidance is clear that all school and college staff should offer early help to children at risk of forced marriage or who are missing from education.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Pauline Latham Con
Education Safeguarding & DBS
Context

The MP seeks information on steps being taken for at-risk children regarding forced marriage and child marriage.

Question

What steps he is taking to provide information in schools for at-risk children on forced marriage and child marriage.

Answer from Will Quince

The “Keeping children safe in education” statutory guidance provides a strong safeguarding framework for schools. It sets out the role that all school staff have to play in safeguarding children, including information for staff on what forced marriage actually is, as well as signposting to further help from the Government's forced marriage unit.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was not fully addressed; no concrete actions or commitments beyond existing guidance were provided.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Pauline Latham Con
Children & Families
Context

The MP's private Member's Bill on child marriage is approaching its Third Reading. Many child marriages occur during summer holidays when children are taken abroad to marry someone they have never met.

Question

My private Member's Bill, the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill, has its Third Reading on 25 February. We are approaching a crucial time for young people at risk of child marriage. Many child marriages happen when children are taken abroad, generally in the summer holidays and often to someone they have never met. Will the Minister meet me to discuss how we can raise awareness of this issue in schools so that children know they can speak out if their parents or other relatives intend to take them abroad to be married in the school holidays and so that teachers know how to report children they consider to be at risk?

Answer from Will Quince

'Keeping children safe in education' is clear that all school and college staff should offer early help to children at risk of forced marriage or who are missing from education. It also signposts to detailed information developed by the forced marriage unit that outlines how schools and colleges should handle any concerns relating to forced marriage. My hon. Friend has campaigned long and hard on this issue, and of course I would be very happy to meet her.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for a detailed plan or action regarding awareness raising was not fully addressed; the response focused more on existing frameworks and personal acknowledgment.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email