Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Commons Chamber

Wednesday 29th April 2026

(began 47 minutes ago)

11:34

Q1. What assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the adequacy of support available to survivors of sexual assault on the Isle of Wight. (908910)

Can Can I Can I just Can I just say Can I just say for Can I just say for the Can I just say for the Trainbearer, who's 40 today? You know, I just want to wish him well. Gary Barlow

11:34

Oral questions: Women and Equalities

here. You know, in the future, right? Order, order. We come to questions. Secretary of State for Quigley.

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Question number one, Mr. Speaker.

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Question number one, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No one, regardless of where they live, should ever experience such heinous crimes. And the government is crimes. And the government is absolutely committed to supporting all victims and survivors. My department, through the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner,

11:34

Q1. What assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the adequacy of support available to survivors of sexual assault on the Isle of Wight. (908910)

provides the hon. Member's local area with core grant funding to support victims of all crime types, including sexual assault and in addition, we provide ring fenced funding for domestic and sexual abuse services.

11:34

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Richard Quigley thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for her answer. On the Isle of Wight, the absence of a sexual assault referral centre means that survivors of rape and sexual assault are often required to make a long ferry journey to Portsmouth or Southampton, sometimes in a very closed. They were assaulted in. In order to access the specialist support they need. Will the support they need. Will the Minister meet with me to discuss how we can finally address and overcome this injustice faced by Wight? Wight?

11:35

Richard Quigley MP (Isle of Wight West, Labour)

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Minister. girls and ensuring that victims receive the right and timely support, is central to this government's strategy to tackle these heinous crimes. Of course, I would be delighted to meet with my hon. Friend to discuss this. I will ensure we have a joined up approach ensure we have a joined up approach from the Department of Health and Social Care to better understand the experiences of women and girls the experiences of women and girls on the Isle of Wight who need help.

11:35

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Secretary of State. Mims Davies. the Isle of Wight and all across the United Kingdom, as the Minister says, must be heard. Virginia DEFRA took her life just one year ago.

11:35

Mims Davies MP (East Grinstead and Uckfield, Conservative)

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She'd shared her abuse by convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, the friend of Peter Epstein, the friend of Peter Mandelson. On the 16th of April, Lisa Phillips, another courageous survivor supported by Carly and Sam survivor supported by Carly and Sam from the Sexual Predator Accountability Institute, came to parliament seeking transparency parliament seeking transparency from lawmakers. Mr. speaker, the clear question for this government is when will it go from platitudes is when will it go from platitudes to victims to tackling trafficking and cover ups and delivering adequate support and justice for all women and girls?

11:36

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Minister? Shadow Secretary of State, and she will know that it is this government that is putting victims back at the heart of our criminal justice system by investing the justice system by investing the biggest ever settlement over half £1 billion into victim support services. For the next three years, I have had the privilege of meeting with the victims that she that she mentions at the despatch box. And of course, they remain at the forefront of my mind and this government's minds, which is why we are working with them and the National Police Chiefs Council to ensure a joined up approach to take their concerns seriously without prejudicing any prejudice issues that may come about.

11:36

Q2. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support people with autism into employment. (908911)

Alison Hume. >> Alison Hume. >> Question number two, Mr. speaker, Minister. >> Mr. speaker, we are committed to supporting autistic people into supporting autistic people into work. Our supported employment program, Connect to Work, will be open throughout England and Wales open throughout England and Wales by the summer and has, in its supported Employment Equality framework, a specialist pathway for neurodivergent people and those with a learning disability.

11:37

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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Alison Hume thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his answer. I recently chaired an autism APPG employment roundtable where individuals with

11:37

Alison Hume MP (Scarborough and Whitby, Labour)

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lived experience highlighted that a significant barrier to employment is a fear factor amongst some employers. This stems from a concern about getting it wrong when recruiting or supporting autistic employees, which can result in employers opting out of recruiting them all together. Could the Minister outline what steps the government is taking to address this fear factor, and incentivise

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this fear factor, and incentivise employers to recruit people with autism? Well, Mr. Speaker, I commend my hon. Friend's important work as chair of the all party group and thank her for hosting me at the Round Table. But this year we

11:37

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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funded Acas to deliver masterclasses on recruiting masterclasses on recruiting neurodivergent people to 1800 small and medium sized enterprise representatives, addressing exactly the concerns that she raised, and my department has also set up the online support with Employer Health online support with Employer Health and Disability Service specifically to help employers on these issues, and we will be looking to see what more we can do.

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more we can do. Josh Babarinde Mr. Speaker. Conservative run East Sussex County Council has shut down the class Plus service, which supports people with autism, towards independent futures, including into employment. With the elections for East Sussex County Council just East Sussex County Council just around the corner, does the Minister agree with me that we should be expanding services to support autistic people into work support autistic people into work and not shutting them down, as the Conservatives are doing?

11:38

Josh Babarinde MP (Eastbourne, Liberal Democrat)

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I'm very sorry to hear what's happened in his constituency. I very much agree with him. We've recently received the report of our expert academic panel on neurodiversity in the workplace that was set up last year, and we're now carefully considering its recommendations and will be acting in the way that he suggests. in the way that he suggests.

11:39

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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I hope no Jack Abbott question three. Mr. speaker. Yes, Minister.

11:39

Q3. What steps she is taking to ban conversion practices. (908912)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With permission, I'll be taking questions three and five together. questions three and five together. Mr. speaker, conversion practices tell people that their identity is wrong, that it can be changed, and that they should be subjected to physical and emotional abuse to change it. These acts are abusive, they are abhorrent, and this government will outlaw them as soon as possible. as possible.

11:39

Olivia Bailey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities) (Reading West and Mid Berkshire, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister mentions, conversion therapy is dangerous, widely discredited and frankly, barbaric. And it's about time we got rid of it. Suffolk Prides Fringe festival starts next month with Pride Blooms, and I'd ask the Minister to make a powerful statement today and say this terrible practice will end this terrible practice will end under this Labour government.

11:39

Jack Abbott MP (Ipswich, Labour )

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Minister. Friend is right that conversion practices are dangerous, discredited and abusive, and I can commit to everyone taking part in Suffolk Pride that this Labour government will ban them. I am working on this legislation urgently. I know how important it urgently. I know how important it is for the community, and we will publish our draft legislation as soon as possible.

11:40

Olivia Bailey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities) (Reading West and Mid Berkshire, Labour)

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Mr. Taylor.

11:40

Rachel Taylor MP (North Warwickshire and Bedworth, Labour)

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Speaker, and I thank the Minister for her comments. So far, conversion practices have conversion practices have devastated the lives of LGBT people for many years, making them feel ashamed of who they are and leaving ashamed of who they are and leaving them with long term physical and mental harm. This upcoming King's Speech marks eight years since a ban on so-called conversion therapy was first promised. Can the Minister reassure me that a bill will come to this House early in the next session, and that we will not be waiting any longer for these cruel and inhumane practices to be outlawed for good here.

11:40

Olivia Bailey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities) (Reading West and Mid Berkshire, Labour)

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Minister. all, can I thank my hon. Friend for being such a fantastic champion for the LGBT+ community? This government will deliver our manifesto commitment to a trans inclusive ban on conversion practices. She is right to say that successive governments have promised to do this. This Labour government will be the one that actually does it.

11:41

Rebecca Paul MP (Reigate, Conservative)

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Yeah. Minister could confirm exactly what conversion practices she specifically plans to ban.

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specifically plans to ban. Minister thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I've been clear in my answers so far this afternoon, but answers so far this afternoon, but today I'm to be very clear, conversion practices tell people that they should be subjected to physical and emotional abuse to change their identity. I think that's unacceptable. This government thinks that's unacceptable and we will ban it.

11:41

Olivia Bailey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities) (Reading West and Mid Berkshire, Labour)

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Clive Jones thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. One school in my constituency is concerned about a year six pupil with significant support needs because of his progress. With the school's help, he has been assessed as not needing specialist provision at secondary school. This is felt to be wrong by his teachers. What will she do to ensure children are not punished for the success of their previous schools? When transitioning to another school?

11:42

Clive Jones MP (Wokingham, Liberal Democrat)

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She's not quite sure it's linked to the right question. Right. Let's move on.

11:42

Q6. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle violence against women and girls. (908916)

Cat Smith. >> Mr. Speaker. With your permission, I will answer questions six and ten together today, our cross-Government Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, which was Women and Girls strategy, which was published on the 18th of December, sets out our strategic direction and concrete actions to prevent violence and abuse, pursue perpetrators and to support victims delivering our unprecedented commitment to halve the levels of commitment to halve the levels of violence against women and girls within a decade.

11:42

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Catherine Smith.

11:42

Cat Smith MP (Lancaster and Wyre, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. violence often take a long time to rebuild their lives, and I'm supporting a constituent at the moment whose perpetrator is about moment whose perpetrator is about to be released from prison but is receiving no support from Lancaster City Council, who is her housing provider, to relocate to another area so that the perpetrator is not released back into the same community? What advice can you give me and my constituent to support that housing move, so that her and Yeah.

11:43

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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But can I thank my hon. Friend for supporting her constituents so diligently and for raising this with me today in the chamber. The with me today in the chamber. The government is committed to ensuring that victims of domestic abuse can access the support that they need for safe accommodation to rebuild for safe accommodation to rebuild their lives, and to part four of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. Local authorities in England are required to assess the need for and commission specialist support for victims and their children in safe accommodation.

To support this delivery, Mhclg has provided nearly £500 million over the next three years to provide domestic abuse victims who are homeless. Eligible accommodation and offenders released from prison are subject to licence requirements, conditions and she should be getting support from her victim liaison officer.

11:43

David Williams MP (Stoke-on-Trent North, Labour)

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Dave Williams. Thank you, Mr. >> Dave Williams. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There have been a number of deeply disturbing cases of women being targeted and attacked on being targeted and attacked on their base on the basis of their perceived religion, including two horrific cases in the Midlands. Can I please ask the Minister what steps are being taken across government to tackle this form of targeted violence against women and girls, and ensure that our communities are properly protected?

11:44

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Well, I thank my hon. Friend for raising this fundamentally important point in the chamber today. I, too, am horrified at the today. I, too, am horrified at the horrific, racially motivated sexual attacks that seem to be ever more increasing at the moment. This government is committed to tackling all forms of hate and hate crime, violence and abuse directed at women and girls because of their race is totally unacceptable and heinous. And where attacks are racially motivated, police can pursue them as racially aggravated offences which attract tougher and higher sentences.

These offences often include assault, harassment and criminal damage and I am proudly working with some brilliant organisations such as Southall, Black Sisters, karma, Nirvana and Hibiscus as part of our strategy to halve the levels of violence against women and girls.

11:45

Simon Hoare MP (North Dorset, Conservative)

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Simon Hoare Mr Speaker. >> Simon Hoare Mr Speaker. >> Violence against women and girls is often focussed on what women and girls can do to prevent or keep themselves safe, but the Minister will know and have sympathy with will know and have sympathy with the very pernicious attitude of toxic masculinity and the huge impact that that is having amongst on teenage boys, on young women and girls across government. What can the government do, preferably cross-party, to try to better message with those young men and young boys, how to deal with young women in school and elsewhere in order to preserve safety and dignity?

11:45

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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I welcome this really, really important question from the hon. Gentleman. He is right to address Gentleman. He is right to address this, and which is why prevention and tackling the issues that are proliferating online, pushing this proliferating online, pushing this narrative to our young men and boys is so harmful. This is part and core of our violence against women and girls strategy. Also, just last week, the Deputy Prime Minister and I hosted a roundtable across government with the Secretary of State for education present to look at how best we can support our men and boys in a positive way forward, to provide them with opportunities going forward so that they are not being pushed.

This message that they are to blame, that they are toxic, toxic masculinity. And I want to be very clear, Mr. Speaker, does not mean that men are toxic at all. And that is a really important point to make.

11:46

Rt Hon Esther McVey MP (Tatton, Conservative)

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Mr. Mike Perry. Taylor. Set up the organisation Families Fighting for justice, after her daughter, Chantelle after her daughter, Chantelle Taylor, was violently and savagely murdered. The murderer then desecrated and concealed her body, and Jean Taylor is wanting to make sure that this is a crime in its own right, and not just an aggravating factor, because not only could she not grieve her daughter or bury her daughter, and Chantal's three children couldn't either. But in hiding the body, serious evidence also was hidden.

The murderer is now out on the streets. Please, will the Minister meet with me and Jean Taylor to discuss a chantelle's law?

11:47

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Minister. raising this. I had hoped to drop in to the event she hosted yesterday in Parliament to meet Jean directly. However, ministerial responsibilities meant I was unable responsibilities meant I was unable to. But I will commit today to meeting with her and Jean to discuss this. She will know that the Law Commission are looking at specifically desecration of a body and that work is ongoing and that we as the government, when they report back, will look at that

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