Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Violence against Women and Girls

Wednesday 3 September 2025 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministers across Government meet regularly through the violence against women and girls ministerial group to drive progress.
  • Based on decades of experience, women are far more at risk from people they know than from strangers.
  • A commitment is made to maintain close dialogue with the Parole Board and Justice Secretary to ensure victim protections.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Will Forster Lib Dem Woking
Women & Equalities Children & Families
Context

The murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif in Woking highlighted inadequacies in social services support for vulnerable children. Social services have been reported as overwhelmed and under-resourced.

Question

Following the harrowing example of Sara Sharif's murder, what steps is this Government taking to ensure local authority social services can protect vulnerable children and prevent such tragedies?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Jess Phillips)

Ministers across Government meet regularly through the violence against women and girls ministerial group to drive progress. The work with my office, the Ministry of Justice, and the Secretary of State for Education ensures that handling social care issues in the strategy is at the top of the agenda.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps or funding details to improve social services capacity

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Q2 Polly Billington Lab East Thanet
Women & Equalities
Context

There is misinformation about who poses the greatest risk to women and girls, leading to confusion in public understanding.

Question

How many women and girls are vulnerable to people they know versus those they do not? Will she condemn elected politicians spreading misleading information on this issue?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Jess Phillips)

Based on decades of experience, women are far more at risk from people they know. The idea that “stranger danger” is a major concern does not reflect reality; most threats come from acquaintances and family members.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide exact statistics as requested

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Q3 Julian Smith Con Skipton and Ripon
Justice & Courts
Context

The Sentencing Bill may impact safety measures for domestic abuse survivors. The Parole Board has raised concerns about the bill's implications.

Question

Will she maintain close dialogue with the Parole Board and Justice Secretary as the Sentencing Bill progresses to ensure victim protections?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Jess Phillips)

A commitment is made here today. The Home Office, the Minister with responsibility for victims, and I have been involved throughout the process to ensure every possible safeguard remains in place despite previous challenges.

Answered
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Q4 Joani Reid Lab East Kilbride and Strathaven
Women & Equalities
Context

The rise of platforms like OnlyFans has led to increased commercialisation of women’s bodies, raising concerns about online exploitation and prostitution.

Question

Will she commit to including pornography and prostitution issues as part of the violence against women and girls strategy in collaboration with DSIT?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Jess Phillips)

A commitment is made to continue working with colleagues in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on these issues as they are crucial components of tackling violence against women and girls.

Answered
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