Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Child Exploitation

Monday 23 March 2026 · 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 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Michelle Welsh raised concern about the lack of inclusion of "child criminal exploitation" in the Department for Education's 2014 statutory guidance on missing children.
  • Gavin Williamson questioned the potential impact of regionalising police forces on child protection efforts, expressing concern about reduced engagement between senior police officers and local authorities.
  • Alicia Kearns inquired about issuing statutory guidance for police forces to address online radicalization and violence against women and girls, citing examples from media reports.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Michelle Welsh Lab Sherwood Forest
Safeguarding & DBS Children & Families
Context

A child is reported missing every three minutes, indicating high vulnerability and risk of exploitation. The term 'child criminal exploitation' is not included in the Department for Education's 2014 statutory guidance on missing children.

Question

I am concerned that a child goes missing every three minutes, often as a warning sign of exploitation. Despite this clear connection, the term 'child criminal exploitation' is not included in the Department for Education's 2014 statutory guidance on missing children. Given the Home Office responsibility for protecting missing children, do you agree Departments must work together to urgently update the guidance so relevant safeguarding partners can understand risks and spot signs effectively?

Answer from Jess Phillips

I absolutely agree. The Home Office is working closely with other departments to ensure a joined-up response, through child protection reforms, updating multi-agency safeguarding guidance and better use of technology like the tackling organised exploitation programme.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not specify concrete steps or timeline for updating guidance

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Q2 Michelle Welsh Lab Sherwood Forest
Safeguarding & DBS Children & Families
Context

A child is reported missing every three minutes, indicating high vulnerability and risk of exploitation. The term 'child criminal exploitation' is not included in the Department for Education's 2014 statutory guidance on missing children.

Question

I am concerned that a child goes missing every three minutes, often as a warning sign of exploitation. Despite this clear connection, the term 'child criminal exploitation' is not included in the Department for Education's 2014 statutory guidance on missing children. Given the Home Office responsibility for protecting missing children, do you agree Departments must work together to urgently update the guidance so relevant safeguarding partners can understand risks and spot signs effectively?

Answer from Jess Phillips

I absolutely agree. The Home Office is working closely with other departments to ensure a joined-up response, through child protection reforms, updating multi-agency safeguarding guidance and better use of technology like the tackling organised exploitation programme.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not specify concrete steps or timeline for updating guidance

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Q3 Gavin Williamson Con Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge
Safeguarding & DBS Children & Families
Context

There are concerns that the Government's plans to regionalise police forces could lead to fewer senior officers working with local authorities, potentially reducing focus on protecting vulnerable children.

Question

With plans to regionalise police forces and potential scrapping of Staffordshire constabulary, there is fear that less focus will be placed on protecting children due to reduced engagement between senior police officers and local authorities. What actions will the Minister take to ensure this does not happen?

Answer from Jess Phillips

The right hon. Gentleman raises a key point about how safeguarding will be rooted at the heart of reforms, and I work frequently with the Minister for Children to ensure multi-agency hubs are fit for future needs. I assure the right hon. Gentleman that I will take his concerns in good faith.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not specify concrete actions or timeline for reforms

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Q4 Alicia Kearns Con Rutland and Stamford
Women & Equalities
Context

Louis Theroux's documentary “Manosphere” highlighted the exploitation of boys by online cowards like Andrew Tate, who make money radicalising them into viewing women as prey. There are also religious preachers encouraging men to beat or rape their wives.

Question

Online cowards such as Andrew Tate make money by radicalizing boys and women as prey, laid bare in Louis Theroux's documentary “Manosphere”. Meanwhile, religious preachers encourage violence against women. Will the Home Secretary issue statutory guidance requiring police forces to use incitement legislation to prosecute those who incite sexual violence against women and girls?

Answer from Jess Phillips

I feel equally disgusted by these examples. The violence against women and girls strategy will look across regulation, legislation and education to protect both boys and girls in our country.

Not addressed: The answer did not specify concrete steps or timeline for issuing guidance

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