Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Support for Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Tuesday 5 November 2024 · 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 Ministry of Justice provides funding for victim support services to help victims recover from the impact of crime.
  • His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service has developed guidance to support and identify victims of modern slavery and human trafficking, including those who have been sexually exploited.
  • The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 will require local commissioners to develop joint needs assessments for victims of sexual abuse to identify and address current gaps.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Joani Reid Lab East Kilbride and Strathaven
Justice & Courts NHS
Context

The question arises from the need to address support services for victims of commercial sexual exploitation, focusing on their access to justice.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to support victims of commercial sexual exploitation through the criminal justice system.

Answer from Alex Davies-Jones

The Ministry of Justice provides funding for vital victim support services to help victims recover from the impact of crime. His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service has developed guidance to support and identify victims of modern slavery and human trafficking, including those who have been sexually exploited.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures and timelines for supporting victims through the criminal justice system were not provided.

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Q2 Joani Reid Lab East Kilbride and Strathaven
Women & Equalities
Context

Organisations like TARA and Routes Out face challenges due to the lack of legal action against pimping websites, affecting women who are exploited through prostitution and sex trafficking.

Question

Does the Minister agree that the UK Government should lead the way by outlawing pimping websites and offering support, not sanctions, to victims of commercial sexual exploitation?

Answer from Alex Davies-Jones

This Government are leading the way with our mission to halve violence against women and girls—all women and girls. The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 will require local commissioners to develop joint needs assessments for victims of sexual abuse in order to identify and address the current gaps, and to support these women. On outlawing pimping websites specifically, I would encourage my hon. Friend to speak to the Minister for Safeguarding.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment on outlawing pimping websites was not given; referred questioner to another minister.

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