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Prostitution and Sex Trafficking: Demand
10 June 2025
Lead MP
Tracy Gilbert
Edinburgh North and Leith
Lab
Responding Minister
Jess Phillips
Tags
Defence
Word Count: 3942
Other Contributors: 5
At a Glance
Tracy Gilbert raised concerns about prostitution and sex trafficking: demand in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Calls for UK-wide legislation similar to Northern Ireland's Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act (2015) making profiting from prostitution of others illegal.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
There are approximately 28,000 reviews on one sex buyers website. Research shows that the most misogynistic reviews were used to control women's behaviour, publicly punishing resistance while rewarding compliance with sexual demands.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Compliments Tracy Gilbert on bringing the debate forward. Asks if she agrees with legislation to make profiting from prostitution a criminal offence.
Joani Reid
Lab
East Kilbride and Strathaven
The hon. Friend inquired about the private Members' Bill tabled by Ash Regan in the Scottish Parliament, which seeks to decriminalise the sale of sex.
Kirsteen Sullivan
Lab/Co-op
Bathgate and Linlithgow
Congratulates Tracy Gilbert for bringing the debate forward. Questions if pimping websites facilitate sex trafficking, making it easier for traffickers to profit from exploitation.
Sharon Hodgson
Lab
Washington and Gateshead South
The hon. Member supported the lead MP's argument that outlawing pimping websites does not drive prostitution underground but rather increases prosecution rates, reducing demand.
The Minister of State for Security and Economic Crime
James Cartlidge
The Government are supporting law enforcement to tackle modern slavery threats and targeting prolific perpetrators, keeping policies under review to ensure online companies fulfil their duty to eradicate exploitation from their sites.
Government Response
Jess Phillips
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh North and Leith for securing the debate... The Government’s position will be informed by the views of victims and survivors, the voluntary and community sector, which works directly with victims and survivors, the police and others.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.