Speeches by Atkinson.

“Will that include, for example, Ministers who were in position at the time, in the same way that you said that you would potentially hold local politicians to account?”

“I have a set of questions about your interactions with both previous inquiries and existing programmes. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse had a report specifically on organised networks. First, can I ask about your reflections on that report and any conversations you have had with Professor Jay around tha…”

“Professor Jay said that the Government’s response to her report was “awful”. She said, “I cannot tell you how it felt” to read the final printed version and that, “It was inconsequential, insubstantial, committed to nothing.” IICSA was, I think, commissioned when Theresa May was Home Secretary in 2014, and it obviously…”

“But what are your reflections on the learning, to make sure that you do not make new recommendations that are not actioned or are not seen to be relevant by whoever happens to be in government at the time?”

“Since the conclusion of the IICSA inquiry, clearly there have been a number a further developments and further actions or inspections. For example, we are aware of the Tackling Organised Exploitation programme set up by the police. We know the HMICFRS recently did an inspection report on the effectiveness of that. Coul…”

“Regarding the policing operation now—Operation Beaconport—can you say a little more about your experience of negotiating and agreeing the memorandum of understanding? In particular, what assurance can you give victims and survivors that your work will in no way impede the full force of criminal investigation to continu…”

“To follow up on that—you have touched on this a little—how far do you feel the levels of antisemitism that we see are affecting Jewish people’s ability to be openly Jewish? Has trying to mask Jewishness now become normalised?”

“My question is about how the growth of antisemitism is affecting Jewish people in their daily lives. In answering that, could you give some examples of different elements of the Jewish community, such as different ages and life stages, and how that is affecting different groups?”

“Given the environment you have described, how much of a risk do you think it is—or how much of a calculation do you feel members of the community are making about whether they believe it is safe and right to remain in the UK, rather than to seek to live elsewhere?”

“Can I ask about how far people feel safe to seek support services? In one of my previous roles, I worked for the NHS in Gateshead, which as you know has a significant Jewish community. I am very aware of the mental health impact of the level of antisemitism that the community must be facing. How would you say people’s …”

“Minister, the strategy recognises that VAWG is increasingly perpetrated online. Could you start off this section by saying a little about your assessment of the online environment faced by women and girls in this country and how you are measuring the instances and prevalence of different types of VAWG online?”

“My final question is on prevention online, not about the technology but the misogynistic environments. We have a situation where some regard the likes of Andrew Tate as role models and algorithms push that content to young men and boys. In your view, what should technology companies—and, if they fail, Government—do to …”

“Thanks. We will probably keep an eye on that.”

“One of the other things the strategy involves is “making the UK one of the hardest places for children to access harmful content and misogynistic influences online.” Given the scale of the challenge you have outlined, what further decisive action do you think may be required by this Government to achieve that?”

“Minister, can I ask a bit more about the way that victims funding will be directed in the future in the context of police accountability reform? I know you mentioned about police and crime commissioners receiving some of that funding at the moment. Whatever the rights and wrongs of police reform in terms of police forc…”

“Ofcom published its guidance about this to the technology companies in recent months, separating it into mandatory foundational guidance under existing legislation and a section that it called “good practice”. An example of what was classed as good practice would be demonetising user-generated content that promotes mis…”

“I would like to speak to Lords amendment 94B and 94C on the agent of change principle. My particular concern, as I said last week, relates to grassroots music venues and the impact on them of the current lack of robust application of the agent of change principle through planning guidance. To set a little context, ther…”

“I understand the temptation to distinguish between urban, rural and coastal communities, but does the Minister recognise that urban communities such as mine in Sunderland are also coastal communities? By the limitations of geography, our economic activity is limited by 180°, and there are particular issues regarding tr…”

“Will the Minister elaborate on funding for brownfield sites? In my constituency, we have Riverside Sunderland, the most ambitious city centre regeneration project in the UK. That is only possible because of £30 million of Homes England funding, which will create more than 800 homes. Does she agree that it is somewhat h…”

“I entirely agree. The title of this Bill includes the words “community empowerment” and “devolution”. I want my community in Sunderland to be empowered: to have the powers to ensure that our key cultural venues—such as Pop Recs, Independent and the Bunker—retain protections from further development around them. I turn …”