Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the level of emotional based school avoidance in (a) Southampton Test constituency and (b) England.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The absence crisis is one of the government's most challenging inheritances. By working alongside school staff and parents, the department is getting absence moving in the right direction with children attending over 3 million more days of school this year compared to last, and over 100,000 fewer children persistently absent.

However, some pupils face complex barriers to attendance, such as those who have mental health conditions, or who have special educational needs and disabilities.

The department knows that pupils and learners with a strong sense of belonging, accomplishment, autonomy and good health are more likely to attend school. New research has shown, for the first time, the link between mental health and school absence. Pupils with mental health problems are seven times more likely to miss more than 15 days of school than their peers. This research can be accessed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/681b676c9ef97b58cce3e518/The_relationship_between_mental_ill_health_and_absence_in_students_aged_13_to_16.pdf.

To tackle these issues, the government has made statutory the ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance, which sets out a ‘support first’ approach. The department has published specific guidance for schools on mental health and attendance, accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-issues-affecting-a-pupils-attendance-guidance-for-schools. We are also committed to providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every school through expanding Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs). As of April 2025, NHS-funded MHSTs cover 52%, or 5 million, of pupils and learners. An additional 900,000 pupils and learners are expected to be covered by April 2026.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of emotional based school avoidance on (a) pupils and (b) schools.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The absence crisis is one of the government's most challenging inheritances. By working alongside school staff and parents, the department is getting absence moving in the right direction with children attending over 3 million more days of school this year compared to last, and over 100,000 fewer children persistently absent.

However, some pupils face complex barriers to attendance, such as those who have mental health conditions, or who have special educational needs and disabilities.

The department knows that pupils and learners with a strong sense of belonging, accomplishment, autonomy and good health are more likely to attend school. New research has shown, for the first time, the link between mental health and school absence. Pupils with mental health problems are seven times more likely to miss more than 15 days of school than their peers. This research can be accessed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/681b676c9ef97b58cce3e518/The_relationship_between_mental_ill_health_and_absence_in_students_aged_13_to_16.pdf.

To tackle these issues, the government has made statutory the ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance, which sets out a ‘support first’ approach. The department has published specific guidance for schools on mental health and attendance, accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-issues-affecting-a-pupils-attendance-guidance-for-schools. We are also committed to providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every school through expanding Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs). As of April 2025, NHS-funded MHSTs cover 52%, or 5 million, of pupils and learners. An additional 900,000 pupils and learners are expected to be covered by April 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) current and (b) historical victims of child sexual abuse in (i) England and (ii) Southampton Test constituency.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

We recognise the devastating impacts of child sexual exploitation and abuse on victims and survivors and are committed to ensuring that specialist support is provided to help all victims and with their long-term recovery. Supporting victims of all forms of child sexual exploitation abuse, regardless of whether it takes place online or in our communities here in the UK or elsewhere, is a priority for the Government.

The Home Office funds a range of victim and survivor support services via the Support for Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse fund (SVSCSA). These vital national services support child and adult victims and survivors, including through the provision of support lines; in-person and remote counselling for victims and survivors and their families; online psychoeducation resources; and training for professionals working with victims.

Recognising the significant role that therapeutic support can play in helping victims and survivors to recover from the devastating impacts of their abuse, the Home Office has committed a further £1.6 million to scale up national support for adult victims of child sexual abuse. The Home Office will also fund the CSA Centre in 2025/26 to develop and deliver evidence-based training for those working with victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.

We will continue to work across Government to ensure that future funding for support services enables victims and survivors to access and receive better care and support.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to provide compensation to survivors of child sexual abuse.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government is making reforms to better support victims of child sexual abuse and prioritise their rights, including making it easier for victims to pursue claims in the civil court.

The Government has committed to remove the three-year time limit for victims to bring civil personal injury child sexual abuse claims, so that claims do not need to be brought within three years of turning 18. This change is significant because we know that it can take decades for survivors to disclose sexual abuse. Now, victims can come forward when they feel ready to do so, without fear of having their claims rejected due to the time limit.

Furthermore, the burden of proof that currently rests on victims' shoulders, who must prove it is possible to hold a fair trial for one to go ahead, has been lifted. Now it is up to the defendant to demonstrate that a fair trial cannot proceed if they intend to challenge one. This will enable cases to be heard more easily, and protect victims from having to relive their trauma any more than is necessary.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is part of a package of Government-funded general and specialist support available to victims of crime. It is a Scheme of last resort where eligible victims cannot claim compensation from elsewhere. Victims, including children, who suffer a serious physical or mental injury as a direct result of a violent crime such as physical and sexual abuse, may be able to access compensation under the Scheme. Payments under the Scheme are an expression of public sympathy and are intended to be an acknowledgment of the harm that eligible applicants have experienced.

The Government recognises the specific challenges faced by victims and survivors of child sexual abuse in applying to the Scheme. Given that it takes between 24 and 27 years, on average, for child sexual abuse victims to report their experiences, we understand that this will affect their ability to comply with some of the Scheme's requirements. The Scheme already allows discretion to extend the time limits for applying in exceptional circumstances, and evidence suggests that discretion is being used effectively. In addition, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) has worked to improve its service for compensation applicants, including providing its staff with specific training on the impact of psychological and emotional trauma in sexual abuse cases, and guidance on applying the exceptional circumstances discretion to sexual abuse cases - particularly child sexual abuse.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department is taking steps to financially compensate historic survivors of child sexual abuse who are affected by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority's same-roof rule.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

We recognise the importance of effective support and redress for victims of sexual abuse. Criminal injuries compensation is part of a wider package of government-funded general and specialist support for victims of crime. Victims, including children, who suffer serious physical or mental injury as a direct result of a violent crime such as sexual abuse, may be able to access compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the Scheme).

The first Scheme, dating from 1964, included an eligibility rule, commonly known as the ‘same roof’ rule. This rule prevented some victims of violent crime from receiving compensation if their assailant was a family member living with them at the time of the incident. The rule was changed in 1979 so that child victims of incidents that occurred on/after 1 October 1979 were no longer affected by it.

Following a Court of Appeal judgment in 2018, the Scheme was amended to remove the pre-1979 same roof rule. In addition, provision was made for new applicants and applicants who had previously been refused an award under the rule to submit a claim. The amended Scheme came into force in June 2019. More than £21 million compensation has been paid to those affected by the rule since the amendments came into effect.

There are time limits to apply for compensation under the Scheme. Following removal of the pre-1979 same roof rule, the time limit to apply was two years from the date the amended Scheme came into force. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, which administers the Scheme, has discretion to consider applications made outside of the time limit in exceptional circumstances. This includes applications relating to the same roof rule and where the applicant was a child at the time of the incident giving rise to the injury.

Having concluded the previous administration’s review of the Scheme in April 2025, this Government is now considering how it can best provide the support that victims need and deserve. We are also driving other improvements for victims, including working on a new Victims’ Code, to raise awareness of compensation.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to support survivors of child sexual abuse who are affected by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority's same-roof rule.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

We recognise the importance of effective support and redress for victims of sexual abuse. Criminal injuries compensation is part of a wider package of government-funded general and specialist support for victims of crime. Victims, including children, who suffer serious physical or mental injury as a direct result of a violent crime such as sexual abuse, may be able to access compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the Scheme).

The first Scheme, dating from 1964, included an eligibility rule, commonly known as the ‘same roof’ rule. This rule prevented some victims of violent crime from receiving compensation if their assailant was a family member living with them at the time of the incident. The rule was changed in 1979 so that child victims of incidents that occurred on/after 1 October 1979 were no longer affected by it.

Following a Court of Appeal judgment in 2018, the Scheme was amended to remove the pre-1979 same roof rule. In addition, provision was made for new applicants and applicants who had previously been refused an award under the rule to submit a claim. The amended Scheme came into force in June 2019. More than £21 million compensation has been paid to those affected by the rule since the amendments came into effect.

There are time limits to apply for compensation under the Scheme. Following removal of the pre-1979 same roof rule, the time limit to apply was two years from the date the amended Scheme came into force. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, which administers the Scheme, has discretion to consider applications made outside of the time limit in exceptional circumstances. This includes applications relating to the same roof rule and where the applicant was a child at the time of the incident giving rise to the injury.

Having concluded the previous administration’s review of the Scheme in April 2025, this Government is now considering how it can best provide the support that victims need and deserve. We are also driving other improvements for victims, including working on a new Victims’ Code, to raise awareness of compensation.