Oral Answers to Questions

Patricia Ferguson Excerpts

Thursday 5th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Solicitor General]

I start by congratulating my hon. Friend on receiving the Ukrainian Order of Merit from President Zelensky for her tireless campaigning for the children of Ukraine. She and I share a number of priorities, and I am proud to sit on these Benches alongside her.

For too long, victims of grooming gangs and serious sexual assault have not been heard. That is why last week I announced the expansion of the victims’ right to review pilot, which will ensure that victims have a second chance for justice, with a second prosecutor reviewing a case before it is dropped by the CPS. This expansion has been driven by victims like Jade Blue—I pay tribute to her campaigning in this area.

[Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow West) (Lab)]

2. What steps she is taking to increase prosecution rates for female genital mutilation.

[The Solicitor General]

Female genital mutilation is an abhorrent practice and I am determined to see more prosecutions. Earlier this week, I spoke at the Crown Prosecution Service’s second national multi-agency conference on honour-based abuse, where I was privileged to have survivors share their stories with me and was moved by their bravery and advocacy for others. I agree with them that we urgently need to improve the criminal justice response to these cases. Last December I attended the first national honour-based abuse scrutiny panel, hosted by the CPS, and will continue to work closely with the service on this matter.

[Patricia Ferguson]

By its very nature, FGM is a hidden tragedy for many women and girls, and it is important that prosecution rates are increased. One way to do that would be to emphasise and publicise the use of FGM protection orders, which can help to prevent the carrying out of FGM both here and abroad, and now apply in all UK jurisdictions. Will the Solicitor General advise what action the Department can take to make the possible use of such orders better known?

[The Solicitor General]

We are launching a pilot in four police forces to test multi-agency approaches to managing FGM protection orders. A whole-system approach is fundamental to tackling FGM and increasing prosecutions. In the spring, the Minister for Safeguarding and I will be hosting a ministerial roundtable dedicated to FGM, bringing together every Department with a role to play to agree collective action to strengthen the prevention, investigation and prosecution of these offences.

Oral Answers to Questions

Patricia Ferguson Excerpts

Thursday 14th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Joe Powell (Kensington and Bayswater) (Lab)]

4. What steps her Department is taking to support the Serious Fraud Office in tackling economic crime.

[Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow West) (Lab)]

6. What steps her Department is taking to support the Serious Fraud Office in tackling economic crime.

[The Solicitor General]

This Government are committed to cracking down on fraud. That is why we have confirmed an additional £9.3 million in funding to improve the performance of the Serious Fraud Office further, enhancing its case management and ensuring better systems for asset recovery.

[The Solicitor General]

I acknowledge my hon. Friend’s proud track record in highlighting economic crime and his work in exposing dirty money. I met the director of the Serious Fraud Office yesterday in this House. We are working closely together to crack down on corruption, fraud, and bribery, and I assure my hon. Friend that the SFO is working incredibly hard in that area.

[Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow West) (Lab)]

In 2023-24, more than 16,000 crimes involving fraud were committed in Scotland. Since crime of that kind is often committed online and observes no borders, will the Solicitor General advise the Chamber on whether the UK and Scottish fraud offices are co-operating on that issue?

[The Solicitor General]

My hon. Friend is correct to say that so often these terrible crimes do not respect borders. Fraud that is specific to Scotland is investigated by Police Scotland and prosecuted by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, which works closely with English-based agencies and the SFO where it is appropriate to do so. This Government are committed to strengthening the Union, and that extends to law enforcement in this area.