Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Sexual Assault Survivors: Isle of Wight

Wednesday 29 April 2026 · 3 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

  • Richard Quigley asked about the adequacy of support for sexual assault survivors on the Isle of Wight, highlighting the absence of a SAR Centre and the difficulties this imposes on survivors.
  • The Government provide core grant funding through the Hampshire police and crime commissioner for support services and ringfenced funding for domestic and sexual abuse services.
  • Mims Davies discussed the case of Virginia Giuffre and Lisa Phillips, emphasizing the need for transparency and support for survivors of abuse.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Richard Quigley Lab Isle of Wight West
Crime & Law Enforcement NHS
Context

The question arises from the absence of a sexual assault referral centre on the Isle of Wight, which forces survivors to travel long distances to receive support.

Question

What assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the adequacy of support available to survivors of sexual assault on the Isle of Wight. The absence of a SAR Centre means that survivors are often required to make long ferry journeys to Portsmouth or Southampton for specialist support, sometimes in the clothes they were assaulted in.

Answer from Alex Davies-Jones

The Government are committed to supporting all victims of sexual assault, providing core grant funding through the Hampshire police and crime commissioner for support services. Ringfenced funding is also available for domestic and sexual abuse services. The Minister would be delighted to meet the hon. Member to discuss how we can address this issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The meeting request was acknowledged but not confirmed with a specific timeline or action plan.

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Q2 Richard Quigley Lab Isle of Wight West
Women & Equalities
Context

The question pertains to the long ferry journeys required by sexual assault victims on the Isle of Wight to access specialist support in Portsmouth or Southampton.

Question

On the Isle of Wight, the absence of a SAR Centre means that survivors are often required to make a long ferry journey—sometimes in the clothes they were assaulted in—to receive specialist support. Will the Minister meet me to discuss how we can address this injustice faced by women and girls?

Answer from Alex Davies-Jones

The Government are committed to supporting all victims and survivors, providing core grant funding through the Hampshire police and crime commissioner for support services. Ringfenced funding is also available for domestic and sexual abuse services. The Minister would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this issue further.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The meeting request was acknowledged but no specific timeline or action plan was provided.

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Q3 Mims Davies Con East Grinstead and Uckfield
Justice & Courts Women & Equalities
Context

The question highlights the case of Virginia Giuffre, who committed suicide a year ago after sharing her abuse by Jeffrey Epstein, and Lisa Phillips' visit to Parliament seeking transparency from lawmakers regarding support and justice.

Question

Virginia Giuffre took her life just one year ago. She had shared her abuse by convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. On 16 April, Lisa Phillips came to Parliament supported by Carly and Sam from the Sexual Predator Accountability Institute, seeking transparency from lawmakers. The clear question for the Government is: when will they go from giving platitudes to victims to tackling trafficking and cover-ups and delivering adequate support and justice?

Answer from Alex Davies-Jones

The Government are putting victims back at the heart of our criminal justice system with an investment over half a billion pounds in victim support services for three years. The Minister had the privilege of meeting the mentioned survivors, ensuring their concerns are taken seriously and working with them to address these issues.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The commitment was made but without specific timelines or mechanisms for addressing cover-ups and delivering justice.

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