Violence against Women and Girls Strategy

Calum Miller Excerpts

Monday 15th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Jess Phillips]

I am more than happy to listen to the hon. Gentleman’s representations in that regard.

[Calum Miller (Bicester and Woodstock) (LD)]

I share the Minister’s impatience and desire to see the publication of a comprehensive strategy that can command the confidence of all parties in this House. Too many cases in my constituency surgeries highlight how perpetrators skilfully exploit the family courts and the Child Maintenance Service to sustain coercion and control of their victims and to continue to harm them, so can the Minister assure my constituents that the strategy will go beyond ending the presumption of contact, in order to protect women and children through the family courts and the CMS?

[Jess Phillips]

Absolutely. We cannot just end the presumption of contact on its own because perpetrators will often just find a new tactic. We have to ensure that our family courts are fit for purpose and will keep the children, and the non-abusive parents, in our country safe.