Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Howell and Damian Green

Monday 15th July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Glyn Davies (Montgomeryshire) (Con)]

16. What steps she is taking to tackle the organised grooming and sexual exploitation of children.

[The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice (Damian Green)]

This Government are absolutely committed to tackling child sexual exploitation. That is why I am leading a new national group on sexual violence against children and vulnerable people, which is taking urgent action to protect children, significantly improve support for victims and bring perpetrators to justice.

[John Howell]

Will the Minister join me in congratulating Thames Valley police force on continuing to bring cases under Operation Bullfinch? Will he also congratulate the girls who gave evidence, often in very difficult circumstances?

[Damian Green]

I am happy to echo my hon. Friend’s last point. I am pleased that justice has been served, following the long police activity that led to Operation Bullfinch, and that the perpetrators are now behind bars where they belong. There are a lot of lessons to be learnt, and I know that Thames Valley police are playing a significant role in ensuring that the police get better at dealing with this type of horrible crime.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Howell and Damian Green

Monday 9th May 2011 Commons Chamber

[John Howell (Henley) (Con)]

3. What estimate she has made of the likely effect of her policy on student visas on the number of visas issued in the 12 months following its implementation.

[The Minister for Immigration (Damian Green)]

The policy will be fully implemented by the end of 2012. From then on, the estimated reduction is about 70,000 main applicant visas a year, plus a further reduction in student dependants of about 20,000.

[John Howell]

I thank the Minister for that response. Will he add to it by telling us what responses he has received from universities on the student visa changes?

[Damian Green]

This is an important point because when we proposed this radical change the universities were understandably worried. Following our announcement, however, we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the university sector. Indeed, Universities UK has said that the reforms

“will allow British universities to remain at the forefront of international student recruitment.”

I am delighted that the policy has been so welcomed by the sector.