Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information his Department holds on the number of forced marriages that have taken place involving (a) a male and (b) a female below the age of 16 in each of the last three years.

The UK is a world-leader in the fight to tackle the brutal practice of forced marriage. The joint Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Forced Marriage Unit provides vital support to between 1,200 -1,400 potential cases a year.

Forced marriage is a hidden crime and therefore the total number of victims who entered a forced marriage is unknown. In 2017, FMU assisted 164 female victims and 22 male victims who were 15 and under. In 2016, FMU assisted 207 female victims and 13 male victim who were 15 and under. In 2015, FMU assisted 160 female victims and 14 male victim who were 15 and under.