Oral Answers to Questions

Mike Martin Excerpts

Wednesday 9th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Caroline Voaden (South Devon) (LD)]

8. What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on violence against women and girls.

[Mike Martin (Tunbridge Wells) (LD)]

11. What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on violence against women and girls.

[Dr Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) (Lab)]

12. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle violence against women and girls.

--- Later in debate ---

[Anneliese Dodds]

I am grateful to the hon. Member for asking that incredibly important question. Many of us have been deeply concerned by some of the stories that have come to public light. We are determined as a new Government to strengthen the legal duty around sexual harassment so that employers take all reasonable steps to stop it before it starts. We will also require employers to create and maintain workplaces and working conditions free from harassment, including by third parties.

[Mike Martin]

My predecessor Greg Clark brought a Bill before the House to make it illegal to harass women in public. The Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill received Royal Assent in September last year, but the Act is not in force because the Secretary of State needs to pass a statutory instrument to make regulations to allow that to happen; it is legal plumbing. Will the Minister undertake to write to me and update me when that work will be done and when this important Act will come into force?

[Anneliese Dodds]

I am happy to write to the hon. Member when the Act does indeed come into force. To be absolutely clear, the new Government are determined to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, which includes on the street as well as in workplaces and homes. I know that the Home Secretary takes that incredibly seriously, so she is working with us on it.