Female Genital Mutilation

Lord Wallace of Tankerness Excerpts

Thursday 28th November 2013 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Cox (CB)]

My Lords—

[The Advocate-General for Scotland (Lord Wallace of Tankerness) (LD)]

My Lords, we should hear from the Cross Benches.

[Baroness Cox]

Is the Minister aware that women who have had FGM and whose daughters are likely to be at risk of subjection to this abhorrent practice are not currently tracked through the NHS or social care systems, so that no preventative measures can be implemented, and that girls at school who show signs of having had FGM are not referred to social services or the police for follow-up action? I therefore ask the Minister what Her Majesty’s Government are doing to ensure that robust information-sharing protocols are developed between health, social care and education agencies and the police so that appropriate actions can be taken to support victims and bring perpetrators to account.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale]

My Lords—

[Lord Wallace of Tankerness]

My Lords, I think we will hear from my noble friend.

[Baroness Hussein-Ece]

My Lords, I am sure that my noble friend the Minister is aware that there are people who want to perpetrate this terrible abuse against young girls who consider some regions of the United Kingdom to be a soft touch. Reports show that girls are being taken in particular to Scotland and parts of the Midlands, where such people think that there is less enforcement. Will the Minister reassure us that there will be consistency in dealing with this child abuse? This has nothing to do with religion; it is child abuse and should be recognised as such.