Oral QuestionDepartment for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

What estimate he has made of the number of pubs that closed in 2018; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for those pub closures.

Tabled: 14 November 2018Answered: 20 November 2018

Asked by

Mr Toby Perkins

LabourChesterfield

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Answer from Hansard

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.