Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Attorney General

Oral Answers to Questions

Keith Vaz Excerpts
Tuesday 10th February 2015

(9 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Robert Buckland Portrait The Solicitor-General
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I welcome my hon. Friend’s remarks. Only today on the radio, we heard about people using mobile apps to control the movements and behaviour of their partners. Modern technology can be a wonderful thing, but it can also be very dangerous in the wrong hands. I believe that the new law will embrace that, too.

Keith Vaz Portrait Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab)
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Female genital mutilation is a form of domestic abuse. Is the Solicitor-General as concerned as I am that there has been no successful prosecution for FGM in this country, following the acquittal last week of two of those prosecuted?

Robert Buckland Portrait The Solicitor-General
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The right hon. Gentleman and I share a passion for ending this scourge. It was important that the prosecution was brought and the number of referrals continues to increase—we did not have any referrals before 2010. That shows that both the police and the Crown Prosecution Service are taking the matter very seriously. The message must be sent out to everybody that those who indulge in this form of abuse will be subject to the law and to prosecution.