Context
Inquiries by the all-party parliamentary group on commercial sexual exploitation have revealed that it is now taking place on an industrial scale, especially with the growth and mainstreaming of sites such as OnlyFans and online brothels like Vivastreet.
Question
Commercial sexual exploitation is the exchange of money, goods or services in return for sex acts. It is a form of violence against women. Given that inquiries have revealed commercial sexual exploitation is now taking place on an industrial scale with platforms like OnlyFans and Vivastreet, does the Minister agree we should urgently outlaw pimping websites and force all pornography websites to verify age and ongoing consent?
Answer from Diana Johnson (Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions)
I thank the hon. Lady for her supplementary question. She will appreciate that she is raising a number of issues that are outside my role as Employment Minister, but I will certainly raise them with my ministerial colleagues in the relevant Departments. She may, however, be interested in today’s written ministerial statement on safeguarding in the DWP for vulnerable claimants, which sets out the work that is already under way to deliver in this important area.
Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to outlawing pimping websites or enforcing age verification and ongoing consent checks on pornography sites as requested by the questioner.
How: Issues Are Outside My Role
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