Oral Answers to Questions

Richard Quigley Excerpts

Wednesday 11th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Stephen Timms]

The right hon. Gentleman raises an interesting point, which I know my hon. Friends will be aware of. The Bus Services Act 2025 includes strengthened requirements for disability training for drivers and for customer-facing staff working for bus companies, but I will certainly reflect on his point.

[Richard Quigley (Isle of Wight West) (Lab)]

6. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle violence against women and girls.

[John Milne (Horsham) (LD)]

12. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle violence against women and girls.

[The Minister for Equalities (Satvir Kaur)]

Violence against women and girls is one of the biggest challenges of our time, which is why this Government have committed to halving it in a decade. Progress towards achieving that includes rolling out dedicated specialist teams in every police force, providing specialist rape and serious sex offence courtrooms, and introducing domestic abuse protection orders. We have launched a new taskforce to tackle misogyny, we are teaching children about healthy relationships in school and we are preparing legislation to make it impossible for children to take, share and view nude images.

[Richard Quigley]

Members will have heard me speak many times about the injustice of victims of sexual assault and rape on the Isle of Wight having to travel by ferry for evidence gathering and treatment, because of the lack of a sexual assault referral centre, yet these traumatic journeys continue and many victims tell me how they feel badly let down. Will the Minister meet me to discuss a way forward so that no one has to leave the island to access that essential service?

[Satvir Kaur]

I thank my hon. Friend for the work he does in supporting victims and survivors in his constituency. Victims and survivors of sexual violence should be able to access timely, sensitive and appropriate specialist support wherever they live. He is right to raise the gaps on the Isle of Wight, and I would of course be happy to meet him to see how together we can address that.