Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the updated Violence Against Women and Girls strategy will include policies on tackling harms against (a) young boys vulnerable to child sexual abuse and (b) all children.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
This Government has been clear that the level of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in our country is intolerable, and we are treating it as the national emergency that it is.
The new VAWG Strategy will set the direction for the next decade, driving forward the Government’s bold ambition to halve VAWG within ten years. This is a landmark commitment that demands a truly transformational approach.
Tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation of both boys and girls will be clearly reflected in the VAWG strategy. But we also recognise that tackling child sexual abuse requires a tailored and child-centred approach. Which is why we are taking forward a separate and ambitious programme of work across Government, including through our response to the Baroness Casey Audit and IICSA recommendations.
The new VAWG Strategy is being finalised, and we will be publishing as soon as possible.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish its updated violence against women and girls strategy.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
This Government has been clear that the level of violence against women andgirls (VAWG) in our country is intolerable, and we are treating it as the national emergency that it is.The new VAWG Strategy will set the direction for the next decade, driving forward the Government’s bold ambition to halve VAWG within ten years. Thisis a landmark commitment that demands a truly transformational approach.
We are working tirelessly across government to deliver a Strategy that will setout bold, concrete actions to prevent violence and abuse, pursue perpetratorsand bring them to justice, and protect victims and survivors. It’s vital we get itright.
We’re working towards publication of the Strategy as soon as possibleand I will continue to keep the House updated on its development andforthcoming publication.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to take steps to help support independent fostering agencies to improve their co-commissioning practices.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department’s priority is to recruit and retain more foster carers so there is a choice of stable, loving foster homes for children in care.
We encourage local authorities and independent fostering agencies to collaborate and offer the best possible homes for children in care. We welcome sector efforts such as the National Fostering Model Contract, which was co-produced by local authorities and Independent Fostering Agencies, which aim to improve commissioning processes.
The department is establishing Regional Care Cooperatives to improve the overarching approach to commissioning placements to best meet the needs of children. There are currently two Regional Care Cooperatives, one in Greater Manchester, and one in the South East, and we will continue to work with these regions to strengthen their commissioning approaches, which will include working closely with the relevant independent fostering agencies.