Protection from
Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill
Third Reading
3.37pm
Welsh Legislative Consent granted.
Motion
Moved by
of Tredegar
That the Bill do now pass.
of Tredegar (Con)
My Lords, I assure noble Lords that the shortness of my remarks
now does not reflect the importance of the Bill: this is an
important, focused Bill and a valuable contribution to the fight
against this blight on our society. The genesis of the Bill was a
consultation announced to this House by my noble friend the Chief
Whip in her previous incarnation. My right honourable friend
MP discussed the Bill with me
before he introduced it into and steered it through the other
place. I am grateful to him and to my noble friend the Minister
and his department, both in the other place and here. This Bill
has had absolute cross-party support, and therefore I am also
grateful to the Opposition Front Bench and other Front Benches. I
have received support from all parts of the House and I thank the
Clerk of the Parliaments and his staff.
I have benefited, as I am sure other noble Lords have, from
reading material sent to me by a number of campaigning groups in
this area, but what really brought home the importance of the
Bill to me was an email I got out of the blue over the summer
from someone I will just call Lauren. When I spoke to her, at
some length, she explained to me the appalling behaviour to which
she had been repeatedly subjected in a park in the part of the
country in which she lives. I hope that the Bill will help her
and others in her position.
It will not have escaped noble Lords that although this Bill,
with the title it has, applies to men and women, women are
overwhelmingly the subjects of this appalling behaviour. This
Bill has been taken through both Houses by men. There is nothing
wrong with that. I suggest that it is absolutely right, because
violence against women and girls is not a matter only for women
and girls, but for all of us.
(Lab)
My Lords, I wholeheartedly endorse the way in which the noble
Lord, , has summarised the Bill
which he has piloted through this House and congratulate him on
it. He was right to remind us that its genesis was with the noble
Baroness, Lady Williams, in her previous incarnation and in an
earlier Bill. Nevertheless, there has been cross-party support
for it, which I am happy to reiterate.
It is worth reminding ourselves that 71% of women of all ages in
the UK have experienced some form of sexual harassment in public.
That rises to 86% of all 18 to 24 year-old young women. I have
one question which I hope the Minister can comment on when
summing up the Government’s position. How will the impact of this
Bill be monitored going forward? It is a very specific and quite
controversial Bill, even though it has had cross-party support;
the Government should see the monitoring of its impact as a
proper part of its enactment, so that we can measure its
benefit.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office () (Con)
My Lords, this Bill reminds us of the very real damage caused by
public sexual harassment, a terrible crime that is far too
widespread. The Bill’s cross-Chamber and cross-party support has
been a real indication of our shared determination to make our
streets safer for everyone.
I put on record my congratulations to all those involved in the
passage of this Bill. First, it is fitting that we pay tribute to
its sponsors: MP in the other place for
bringing the Bill forward and so ably championing the experience
of his constituents on the issue and my noble friend of Tredegar in this Chamber
for picking up the baton to see it through to Royal Assent. I
also recognise my ministerial colleagues—in particular my noble
friend Lord Evans for his work in responding to the Bill on
behalf of the Government—and the officials who supported them in
doing so. My thanks also go to all other Members of both Houses
who have provided careful scrutiny of the Bill and spoken so
thoughtfully and respectfully on this sensitive topic. In doing
so, they have not only worked together to make it stronger but
played a key part in helping to raise awareness of public sexual
harassment.
As with any new criminal justice legislation, an implementation
period will be necessary to ensure that all processes, systems
and guidance are updated. That includes drawing up the necessary
statutory guidance. We therefore cannot give a timescale now for
when we expect the offence to be implemented, but we will ensure
that the legislation comes into force as quickly as reasonably
possible. I think that goes some way to answering the question of
the noble Lord, Lord Ponsonby, on how it will be monitored. The
guidance needs to be carefully drawn up first, and then I am sure
we will return to the subject.
I end on the most important thank you of them all: to those who
relentlessly campaigned for this change. The Bill is a testament
to the hard work and passion of the organisations and many
individuals who bravely shared their experiences. I join my noble
friend in saying to them that their
efforts have made a real difference in the pursuit of making our
streets safer for women and girls.
3.43pm
Bill passed.
