Oral Answers to Questions

Baroness Featherstone Excerpts

Thursday 27th January 2011 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for Equalities (Lynne Featherstone)]

Policy responsibility for human trafficking rests with the Minister for Immigration. Combating human trafficking, including the sexual exploitation of women and girls, is a key priority for the Government. We are committed to tackling organised crime groups who profit from this human misery, and to protecting victims. Tackling organised immigration crime, including trafficking, is a high priority for the Serious Organised Crime Agency, of which the UK Human Trafficking Centre is now part.

[Pamela Nash]

I thank the Minister for her answer, and I appreciate that this subject also falls under the category of immigration. Given that the European Union directive on trafficking would ensure that the UK provided further protection and support for victims, does she agree that we should enter into that commitment without further delay?

[Lynne Featherstone]

We have said all along that we would look at what was happening in the European directive. The wording was decided on the 13th, and the member states are now deciding whether to opt in or not. When that has happened, we will take a look, and if there are further things that we think would be helpful, we will make a decision then.

[Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con)]

I welcome the Government’s review of the policy on human trafficking. Will the Minister tell us whether all non-governmental organisations with an interest in this field, including the all-party parliamentary group on human trafficking, are being consulted on the review?

[Lynne Featherstone]

As far as I am aware, the NGOs are being consulted, although there is not a public consultation.

[Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab)]

The Minister says that her Government are making anti-trafficking a high priority. Now that the directive has been completed, is she seriously saying that she is going to wait for other states to make a decision before Britain does so? Should not we be in the lead on this issue? The directive has been supported by Members of the European Parliament of all parties represented in this House. Is it not time for her to adopt the directive? If she is not planning to do so yet, will she tell us why not?

[Lynne Featherstone]

We have to look at it and then make our decision. On 14 October, during the anti-slavery day debate, the Minister for Immigration announced a new strategy to tackle human trafficking that involved disrupting the practice in the country of origin and on the border, as well as supporting the victims. We will have to see what the EU directive adds or does not add, and we will make our decision in due course.

[John Glen (Salisbury) (Con)]

3. What steps she plans to take to increase the number of women on corporate boards.

--- Later in debate ---

[Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire) (LD)]

6. What assessment she has made of the effect on the well-being of women and girls of body image representations in the media.

[The Minister for Equalities (Lynne Featherstone)]

I would like to congratulate my hon. Friend on her tireless commitment to this area of work. I, too, remain deeply worried about this issue. I have met too many people, both male and female, whose lives have been affected by negative feelings about their body shape. Recently I convened a group of experts to discuss our shared concerns and the evidence that they had assembled. I am working with them and with relevant industries to identify non-legislative ways of tackling the issue.

[Jo Swinson]

Girlguiding UK regularly surveys young women and girls in the country and consistently shows that girls are unhappy with the prevalence of heavily airbrushed images and the ultra-thin ideal in the media. The Committee of Advertising Practice, which sets the advertising rules, is either oblivious or complacent about this problem, however, recently stating in a letter that it has

“seen very few ads that are targeted at children which appear to have been airbrushed”,

and that it does not think that this is “a widespread practice”. Will the Minister reassure the House that she will not let the advertising industry get away with dismissing this issue?

[Lynne Featherstone]

I can assure my hon. Friend that the advertising industry is more than well aware both of her work and of the Government’s intention to work with interested partners on this issue. I am sure that Members of all parties recognise that it is a real issue for girls, women and young men in this country.

[Luciana Berger (Liverpool, Wavertree) (Lab/Co-op)]

7. What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effect on women of changes to the state pension age.

--- Later in debate ---

[David Mowat (Warrington South) (Con)]

9. What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on custodial sentences for women with children.

[The Minister for Equalities (Lynne Featherstone)]

No recent discussions have been held on this issue. Sentencing is entirely a matter for the courts, which take account of all the circumstances of the offender and the offence. This will include consideration of whether or not the offender is a primary carer. We have a continuing programme of work under way to divert women away from custody for those who do not pose a risk to the public. We must ensure that women who offend are successfully rehabilitated, whether they serve sentences in custody or in the community.

[David Mowat]

I thank the Minister for that response. She will be aware that, according to the Corston report, one third of custodial sentences for women go to women who are lone parents. That has severe knock-on effects for their children. What further guidelines can the Minister issue in this area?

[Lynne Featherstone]

Yes, we have taken the Corston recommendations very seriously and we are developing a strategy to ensure that the women’s estate is fit for purpose in both custodial and community settings. We are also following on with programmes to divert women away from custody: more than £10 million has been provided to deliver 44 community-based interventions for women to tackle the underlying causes of their offending as part of robust community sentencing.

[Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD)]

Can the Minister say whether the Ministry of Justice is on target to reduce the number of women in custody by 400, as has previously been agreed?

[Lynne Featherstone]

I am not in a position to say, because I have not had that discussion this morning.