Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Christine Jardine Excerpts
Tuesday 5th November 2024

(2 weeks, 2 days ago)

Commons Chamber
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Victoria Collins Portrait Victoria Collins (Harpenden and Berkhamsted) (LD)
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8. What steps she is taking to support survivors of domestic abuse and violence against women through the criminal justice system.

Christine Jardine Portrait Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) (LD)
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15. What steps she is taking to support survivors of domestic abuse and violence against women through the criminal justice system.

Alex Davies-Jones Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Alex Davies-Jones)
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We are committed to supporting victims and survivors of these abhorrent crimes, including through the £26 million rape and sexual abuse support fund and the funding of independent domestic and sexual violence advocates. Furthermore, we will increase the powers of the Victims’ Commissioner to improve accountability when victims’ needs are not met.

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Christine Jardine Portrait Christine Jardine
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The Scottish Government recently decided against including misogyny in their Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, but we know how pernicious and widespread misogyny is, especially in the context of domestic abuse. Just 6% of all offences are reported, and there are even lower rates for rape and sexual assault convictions. Is the Lord Chancellor planning to review aggravated offences, and misogyny in particular, to ensure that women and girls get the protection that we deserve?

Alex Davies-Jones Portrait Alex Davies-Jones
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As the hon. Lady will know, this Government were elected with a landmark mission to halve violence against women and girls over the course of a decade. Every single Department, including the Department for Education, will look at how we tackle misogyny in our schools, streets, homes and workplaces, online, and indeed everywhere. The Opposition have just elected a leader who has made rape jokes previously, but this is about leadership and taking things seriously, and that is exactly what this Government and I are doing. I urge the hon. Lady to write to the Home Office about the specific point that she has made.