Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls.

Wednesday 11 March 2026 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister thanked Warinder Juss for his support of Black Country Women's Aid.
  • Government is working through a ministerial group involving 14 Departments to tackle violence against women and girls.
  • Minister agrees to consult with the Northern Ireland Justice Minister to address the issue of violence against women and girls.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Warinder Juss Lab Wolverhampton West
Crime & Law Enforcement Women & Equalities
Context

Warinder Juss visited Wolverhampton girls' high school and observed posters promoting the 'Orange Wolverhampton' campaign, an initiative working with community partners to combat gender-based violence and abuse.

Question

I visited Wolverhampton girls' high school and saw posters promoting the 'Orange Wolverhampton' campaign. While the criminal justice system plays a role, does the Minister agree that community-based early intervention and prevention, including education and awareness among young people, is crucial for both victims and perpetrators?

Answer from Jess Phillips

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. This weekend, I was with Black Country Women's Aid, celebrating its 40th anniversary, and its staff mentioned how my hon. Friend had been incredibly supportive of them. The first of the three aims of our strategy is to stop violence before it starts, focusing on the prevention that he talks about. We will focus on young people, supporting parents and working with schools to challenge misogyny and promote healthy relationships. We will also engage with industry and take decisive action to safeguard young people by making the UK one of the hardest places for children to access harmful content and misogynistic influence.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly confirm agreement with the questioner's view but acknowledged the importance of prevention and community intervention.

How: This Weekend, I Was With Black Country Women'S Aid, Celebrating Its 40Th Anniversary, And Its Staff Mentioned How My Hon. Friend Had Been Incredibly Supportive Of Them.

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Q2 Warinder Juss Lab Wolverhampton West
Women & Equalities
Context

Warinder Juss is concerned about violence against women and girls and the steps being taken by the government to address this issue.

Question

What steps is the government taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle violence against women and girls?

Answer from Jess Phillips

We are delivering the commitments set out in the cross-Government 'Freedom from Violence and Abuse' strategy, published in December 2025, which sets out actions to prevent violence, pursue perpetrators and support victims. A ministerial group bringing together 14 Departments provides strategic oversight of delivery, driving progress, addressing risk, and ensuring collective ownership of our commitment to halve VAWG within a decade.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q3 Gregory Campbell DUP East Londonderry
Northern Ireland Women & Equalities
Context

Violence against women and girls continues to increase in Northern Ireland, with another woman killed in the past few days.

Question

Violence against women and girls continues to increase, with another woman killed in the past few days in Northern Ireland, and we need to take positive action to stem this misogynistic abuse of both women and girls. Will the Minister undertake to consult with the Northern Ireland Justice Minister?

Answer from Jess Phillips

The hon. Gentleman highlights another incredibly sad case. Of course, I work with the Justice Minister in Northern Ireland—we work very closely with all the devolved Administrations to make sure we are working together to deal with this problem collectively.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to a specific consultation with the Northern Ireland Justice Minister

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Q4 Mims Davies Con East Grinstead and Uckfield
NHS Women & Equalities
Context

Women's Rights Network found via freedom of information requests that one in seven sexual crimes committed in hospitals were committed on hospital wards, and that two in five female medical students reported sexual harassment or assault at university.

Question

With just 4% charged for these offences, perpetrators are getting away with it, and are surely committing more attacks. Against the backdrop of Labour's shameful choices on jury trials yesterday—all appalling—when will the Minister and this Government act to protect women on wards?

Answer from Jess Phillips

If the hon. Lady were to read the violence against women and girls strategy, she would see that there is a specific section on healthcare workers and workers across the community, specifically targeting the issue of sexual harassment within the NHS. I would also point out to her that the charging rate for sexual crimes fell to a historic low under her Government, and I am very pleased to tell the House that it is now increasing.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide a specific timeline or action plan to protect women on wards

How: Pointed Out A Flaw In The Opposition'S Record

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Q5 Marie Goldman Lib Dem Chelmsford
Justice & Courts Women & Equalities
Context

The Guardian revealed that suicides following domestic abuse may be vastly under-reported, with research in Kent suggesting that they could be 15 times more prevalent. There has been just one manslaughter conviction from such a death in the whole of UK legal history.

Question

Given the Government's reluctance to support that measure, will the Minister commit to making the College of Policing's published guidance on this matter statutory, so that these cases are properly investigated across all forces?

Answer from Jess Phillips

I thank the hon. Lady for her question. Once again, I point to this exact issue being covered in the violence against women and girls strategy, with the need to improve police responses. That is why the Government have invested £13.1 million into a policing centre that focuses specifically on VAWG. On this specific issue of suicide following domestic abuse, it has undertaken some absolutely groundbreaking work that I very much hope will lead to change and further convictions, which we all want to see.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to making the College of Policing's guidance statutory

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