Gregor Poynton
MP for Livingston · Labour · United Kingdom
“We want to ensure that online companies fulfil their duties to eradicate exploitation from their sites, and we will take further action to achieve that if necessary. I turn to the broader picture of disrupting trafficking for sexual exploitation, which was covered in my hon. Friend’s speech.”
“Of course, prostitution and human trafficking offences are complex and multifaceted crimes often linked to other offending, and people are often victims of multiple abuses. The legislation regarding prostitution and human trafficking is largely devolved in Scotland.”
“We have been working closely with law enforcement to ensure that they have the necessary tools and training to tackle exploitation. For example, the Home Office-funded modern slavery and organised immigration crime programme, delivered by the National Police Chiefs’ Council leads, has developed a new framework for investigating modern sla…”
“We know that human trafficking often crosses borders and takes many forms, including sexual exploitation. That is why we are also working closely with international partners to disrupt those networks. We have agreed bilateral frameworks with key partner countries to strengthen co-operation, prevent exploitation and support victims.”
“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Murrison. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh North and Leith (Tracy Gilbert) for securing this debate. The depth of her knowledge and the passion with which she spoke was obvious to all of us and has been obvious since the first day that she arrived in this place.”
“We must also acknowledge that individuals selling sex have increasingly turned to technology to try to manage their safety, as the University of Bristol found in its research on prostitution in England and Wales.”
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“Friend the Member for Gower and the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon). For too long, women and vulnerable people have been trapped within sexual exploitation under the guise of prostitution. This Government will not stand for it. These are complex and challenging issues, but we must be unrelenting in seeking to address them. The most vulnerable in our society demand this of us. Question put and agreed to.”
“We know that human trafficking often crosses borders and takes many forms, including sexual exploitation. That is why we are also working closely with international partners to disrupt those networks. We have agreed bilateral frameworks with key partner countries to strengthen co-operation, prevent exploitation and support victims. For example, the Home Office has agreed joint action plans with Romania and Vietnam, committing us to closer law enforcement co-operation, the disruption of trafficking networks and improved support for victims, including some returning to their own countries. I will wrap up by again thanking my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh North and Leith for securing the debate and all those who have spoken, including my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Steve Yemm), my hon.”
“We have been working closely with law enforcement to ensure that they have the necessary tools and training to tackle exploitation. For example, the Home Office-funded modern slavery and organised immigration crime programme, delivered by the National Police Chiefs’ Council leads, has developed a new framework for investigating modern slavery, including a suite of products to guide forces in identifying and tackling sexual exploitation. This provides a nationally consistent investigative framework that will help to sustain progress and support forces in delivering a strong, evidence-based response to modern slavery. It will further equip officers with practical tools for navigating modern slavery crimes and fill critical gaps in frontline knowledge to drive performance and support greater accountability.”
“We want to ensure that online companies fulfil their duties to eradicate exploitation from their sites, and we will take further action to achieve that if necessary. I turn to the broader picture of disrupting trafficking for sexual exploitation, which was covered in my hon. Friend’s speech. Tackling the trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation is important because it is a truly horrific crime. We are determined to safeguard victims and bring the ruthless perpetrators of this crime to justice. Although policing is devolved in Scotland, this means we must ensure that police across the UK are relentlessly pursuing those perpetrators who pose the greatest risk to women and girls, and other vulnerable people, and that we are using all the tools at our disposal to protect victims and get dangerous perpetrators off the streets.”
“Furthermore, in 2025 the Home Office provided £450,000 to the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for prostitution in England and Wales to pilot a national intelligence hub using information from adult services websites. During the pilot phase, the hub identified serial and serious offenders previously unknown or partially known to the police, leading to four arrests, safeguarding actions and other risk mitigations. The UK Government are further supporting law enforcement to tackle the drivers of online trafficking for sexual exploitation through operational activity aimed at tackling modern slavery threats and targeting prolific offenders. The UK Government will continue to keep policies to tackle online enablers of sexual exploitation under review.”
“As of 17 March 2025, online platforms need to take safety measures to protect users from illegal content, such as those set out in Ofcom’s code of practice, or face significant penalties. Ofcom has already started to investigate adult sexual websites for matters such as non-compliance with the Online Safety Act’s risk assessment duties or not adopting highly effective age assurance measures. In addition, our law enforcement partners are working closely with Ofcom specifically on the issue of adult services websites to help ensure that the right measures are being put in place to identify and remove illegal content and safeguard people from sexual exploitation.”
“We must also acknowledge that individuals selling sex have increasingly turned to technology to try to manage their safety, as the University of Bristol found in its research on prostitution in England and Wales. It is important that we try to understand the unintended consequences for the safety of those in prostitution of removing an option that helps them to manage their safety. However, online platforms must be responsible and held accountable for the content on their websites, including platforms taking proactive steps to prevent their sites from being used by criminals. We are implementing the Online Safety Act 2023, which sets out priority offences including sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Online platforms now have a duty to assess the risk of illegal harms on their services.”
“We must go further to prevent sexual exploitation by supporting law enforcement to identify and prosecute offenders and disrupt sexual exploitation facilitated by online platforms. To address the point raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Tonia Antoniazzi) and covered my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh North and Leith, under the previous Government, officials met organisations that provide adult service websites. However, as my hon. Friend rightly pointed out, under this Government, officials and Ministers have not met with those online service providers. My hon. Friend covered adult service websites in great depth. As Members are aware, the online space is a significant enabler of sexual exploitation, and our response must reflect that.”
“Of course, prostitution and human trafficking offences are complex and multifaceted crimes often linked to other offending, and people are often victims of multiple abuses. The legislation regarding prostitution and human trafficking is largely devolved in Scotland. That is why the UK Government work closely with counterparts in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as with law enforcement partners across the UK. The UK Government are aware that, in March, the Scottish Government established an independent commission to explore how to safely and effectively criminalise the purchase of sex. We will follow the progress of that commission closely as we undertake our own review of prostitution laws in Wales in England—a commitment in our violence against women and girls strategy that remains firm and steadfast.”
“However, it assessed a number of existing estimates made over the preceding 25 years, which ranged from 35,882 to 104,964 people in prostitution—a truly terrible number. We know that potential victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation make up a large proportion of referrals to the national referral mechanism—the framework for identifying and referring potential victims of modern slavery to appropriate support. The most recent statistics show that in 2025 across the UK, sexual exploitation accounted for 3,607, or 15% of all referrals. Of those who were sexually exploited, the majority—80%—were female. In Scotland in 2025, there were 144 referrals to the national referral mechanism where sexual exploitation was reported as at least one exploitation type, compared with 135 in 2024.”
“For too long, women and vulnerable people have been trapped within sexual exploitation under the guise of prostitution. The daily abuse they suffer is truly horrific, and that people are profiting from this exploitation is sickening. Any individual who wants to leave prostitution or has been sexually exploited must be given opportunities to find routes out and recover. To tackle a problem, we must first understand its prevalence. The nature of prostitution makes it difficult to accurately estimate the numbers in Scotland, as well as in England and Wales. In 2019, the Home Office published research by the University of Bristol, which found that it is not possible to produce a single estimate for the numbers of people engaged in prostitution in England and Wales.”
“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Murrison. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh North and Leith (Tracy Gilbert) for securing this debate. The depth of her knowledge and the passion with which she spoke was obvious to all of us and has been obvious since the first day that she arrived in this place. I know that she will continue to advocate and campaign on these really important issues. I am deeply grateful to everyone who continues to advocate and campaign for action to tackle sexual exploitation, for better support for victims and survivors to recover, and for perpetrators to be brought to justice. Before I respond to some specific points, it is worth outlining some key facts about this area. First, sexual exploitation can take different forms, which often overlap.”
“The situation facing Gazans is truly catastrophic. We must secure a ceasefire as soon as possible, with all hostages freed and unhindered access to aid. Our experience in Northern Ireland shows that to build a long-term, sustainable peace we need to invest in civil society and peacebuilders, to create a consensus and to change opinions for the better. Will my right hon. Friend therefore tell us what the UK Government are doing to support the international fund for Israeli-Palestinian peace?”
“Does the Secretary of State agree that the UK Labour Government are getting on with the serious business of delivering an industrial strategy that will support jobs in my Livingston constituency? That is in sharp contrast to the failing SNP Government, who have no industrial strategy, no plan for workers, and no plan to support Scotland’s key sectors.”
“In my constituency, East Calder has been let down by the SNP Scottish Government’s repeated failure to deliver a long promised health centre. Despite record funding, including £5.8 billion in Barnett consequentials for health, the SNP Scottish Government have failed in their promises to the people of East Calder. Meanwhile, the UK Labour Government are showing how public money can be used to rebuild, reform and reinvest in our NHS right across the country. Does the Leader of the House agree that it is time for a debate on how the SNP Scottish Government can learn from that approach and that places like East Calder deserve better than the SNP’s dither and delay?”
“Does the Secretary of State agree that the actions of Russia on 9 July, when it launched the largest aerial bombardment of the war to date, show that Ukrainian civilians and military are still in a fight for their lives and the future of their country, and that this House, our Government and our country must do everything possible to stand with them in that fight?”
“The new agreement with the EU will help Scottish businesses to grow and to export. World-class producers such as Glenmorangie whisky, which is bottled in my constituency, Paterson’s shortbread, which is baked in my constituency, and the Scottish salmon industry have warmly welcomed the deal for Scotland. Why does the Minister think that the SNP, the Tories and Reform have set their faces against it?”
“1. What discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the potential impact of the spending review 2025 on Scottish public services.”
“This UK Labour Government are delivering the largest budgetary settlement in the history of devolution, with an extra £9.1 billion to invest in Scottish public services, yet the SNP Scottish Government continue to squander opportunity after opportunity and waste the public’s money. Will he join me in urging the SNP Scottish Government to get a grip and invest in projects that matter to our communities, such as the East Calder medical centre, which has not materialised after SNP dither and delay?”
“The SNP Government have given warm words to that community, but they have nowhere near delivered anything. They have the money now to deliver a new medical centre in East Calder. They should get on and do it. Meanwhile, the UK Labour Government are investing in our clean energy future, with £2.3 billion for nuclear energy and SMRs, but the SNP’s ideological block to new nuclear power means Scotland is missing out on jobs and investment.”
“That record money is a powerful opportunity to rebuild Scotland’s NHS, our schools, our transport system and our housing stock. The problem is that we cannot trust the SNP Government to use that money wisely. For too long, Scotland has seen taxpayers’ money squandered by a Government with no strategy and no clue what they are doing. After almost two decades in power, the SNP have lost their way and have now failed to deliver on the basic promise of competent government. They declared a housing emergency then slashed the housing budget. They promised 130,000 green jobs by 2020 and delivered almost none. They pledged £80 million for the Acorn carbon capture and storage project in 2022, and that money remains unpaid. Locally, residents, the local NHS and clinicians have all said that the East Calder medical centre needs to be replaced.”
“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir John, and to speak in today’s debate; I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Dunfermline and Dollar (Graeme Downie) on securing it. This spending review marks a turning point for Scotland. After years of stagnation under two failing Governments—the Tories in Westminster and the SNP in Holyrood—this UK Labour Government are delivering the change that Scotland so desperately needs. This is the most generous funding settlement for Scotland in the history of devolution. Over the next three years, the Scottish Government will receive an extra £9.1 billion for public services in Scotland. That is not rhetoric—that is real investment. Labour is ending austerity and restoring fairness.”
“Let us not forget our role in global trade, too. Thanks to the Government’s leadership, new trade deals are opening doors for iconic Scottish products. In India, Scotch whisky, our largest export, is getting a tariff cut, boosting a £180 million market. US steel tariffs have come down, helping manufacturing jobs across the UK, including in Scotland. That is what serious government looks like: ambition backed by delivery, and investment guided by our values. The spending review represents a huge opportunity for Scotland, but only if we have a Government in Holyrood who can rise to the moment, and that means change. The SNP Government have had their chance, and after nearly two decades, frankly, if they were going to fix our NHS, deliver green jobs or improve education, they would have done it by now.”
“The spending review also confirms £750 million for a new national supercomputer in Edinburgh, which places Scotland at the forefront of high-performance computing. That is not abstract. It means new opportunities for medtech, life sciences and clean tech industries in my constituency. These are well-paid, high-skill, high-quality jobs for my constituents. Scotland is also now benefiting from £8.3 billion for Great British Energy, headquartered in Aberdeen, ensuring that we lead the world in clean, affordable and home-grown energy. For our communities, the spending review has delivered £234 million in new local investment funds, empowering towns and local councils to invest in what really matters to people: revitalising high streets, upgrading infrastructure and supporting jobs and investment.”
“If Scotland is to make the most of this historic Labour investment, we need a Scottish Government we can trust, and that means voting for change. It means voting for a Scottish Labour Government. When Labour governs, we do not just talk about fairness; we fund it and deliver it. Let me turn to what the spending review means for my Livingston constituency. I am proud to represent a community with ambition and innovation at its core. Now, thanks to Labour’s investment, that potential has been matched by real support. The Falkirk and Grangemouth growth deal, with £100 million in joint funding for both the UK and Scottish Governments, is a huge vote of confidence in our region’s industrial future. Grangemouth, just down the road, is key to Scotland’s energy transition, and the Labour Government are stepping up where others have failed.”
“I agree with the hon. Lady on that point; I think the oil and gas sector is vital. I am on the record saying that I support Rosebank and Jackdaw, and I think we should get on and do it. We need to invest in that sector, because ultimately, those are the people with the skills and supply chains that will allow us to transition to the green jobs of the future, at the same time as securing jobs now. I agree with much of what she said. The SNP Government have presided over an NHS in crisis, with one in six Scots on a waiting list and a generation of young people growing up in temporary accommodation. They have no plan and no urgency, and we have seen absolutely no progress. That is why next year’s Scottish Parliament election is so important.”
“Does the Secretary of State agree that our welfare system must do much more to support and reward work, and also support people who are looking to re-enter or enter work? What difference does she believe that the right to try guarantee will make in achieving that?”
“The National Crime Agency and other law enforcement agencies have highlighted the growing prevalence of AI-generated child sexual abuse material as one of the biggest threats to public safety. It is a growing threat to us online. That is why I was astonished last week to see the Tories and Reform vote against the Crime and Policing Bill, which contains world-leading measures to tackle this horrific crime. Does the Minister agree that it is frankly disgusting to see the Tories and Reform using this issue for party politics?”
“T7. Does the Minister join me in welcoming the ceasefire between Israel and Iran announced by President Trump, and although the situation clearly remains fragile, does he see an opportunity to restore stability and develop a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear programme—one that ensures that Iran never has access to nuclear weapons?”
“I thank the Secretary of State for that response. One of the best ways of reducing child poverty is helping parents into good, stable and well-paid jobs, which the SNP Scottish Government are failing abjectly to do. For example, the SNP manifesto in 2021 promised to double investment in the paternal employment fund to £15 million over two years to help low-income families get into work. However, in 2023 that pledge was scrapped. Will the Secretary of State call on the Scottish Government to put some of their record funding into employability funds, to help my Livingston constituents get into work and to provide good jobs right across Scotland?”
“I welcome the UK Government’s bold 10-year infrastructure plan, and the swift action they have already taken to green-light projects such as the third runway at Heathrow. However, sadly for my constituents, infrastructure policy and delivery in Scotland is in the hands of the failing SNP Government—a Government who cannot dual a road or build a ferry. We are in the grips of a housing emergency in West Lothian, and they are not building the homes that we need. Does the Minister agree that there is much that the SNP Scottish Government can learn from the UK Government about getting the country building again?”
“I think all Labour Members warmly welcome today’s statement, particularly those in Scotland, where 240,000 families will benefit from £150 off their bills this winter. That includes thousands of working families across my constituency. Does the Minister agree that this is another case of the UK Labour Government making a manifesto commitment and delivering on it?”
“Secondly, how does this industrial strategy create a positive operating environment so that boardrooms in the UK and across the world see the UK as a place to invest and do business? Again, I am keen for his comments on that.”
“I echo the comments of the hon. Member for Dumfries and Galloway (John Cooper) about working across the parties—this is about growth—and about the Chair driving this forward. The 10 tests we have outlined are about how the document has a real-world impact. For me, two of the tests are clear. First, how does an industrial strategy galvanise action across the Government? With previous industrial strategies, good as they may well have been, Departments other than Business did not see it as their responsibility to deliver. We must make sure that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Transport and so on have ownership too and responsibility for delivering the strategy. I am keen to get my right hon. Friend’s comments on that.”
“I thank everyone for staying. I warmly welcome the Chancellor’s statement, which shows that this Labour Government are investing in Scotland’s renewal. I particularly welcome the funding allocation for the Acorn carbon capture and storage project, which will unlock billions of pounds of private investment and create high-quality jobs in Scotland. May I ask the Chancellor how the project will create jobs in my constituency and support sites such as Grangemouth to thrive?”
“I warmly welcome the Secretary of State’s statement today. Unfortunately, it is not for viewers in Scotland. Scotland was once a pioneer in nuclear energy, and it should be again, but due to the SNP Scottish Government’s outdated, backward and frankly bizarre opposition to nuclear energy, they are turning away billions of pounds of investment and thousands of high-skilled jobs. Does he agree that this is yet another way that the SNP Scottish Government have lost their way?”
“Our Committee’s report covered how we can help agrifood businesses export to the EU, and I was delighted to see Salmon Scotland and the National Farmers Union Scotland come out in support of the deal this week. Does my right hon. Friend agree that it was baffling to see the SNP stand with Reform and the Tories in opposition to the deal?”
“Does the Secretary of State agree that it is telling that one of the many Tory Prime Ministers that we had over their 14 years in Government, the right hon. Member for Richmond and Northallerton (Rishi Sunak), said in 2023 that he wanted to conclude a deal soon. Is it not the case that the bluster and the red faces that we have seen from the Conservative party today is nothing more than the worst type of political hypocrisy?”
“When it comes to evaluating the merits of the deal, who would the Prime Minister suggest my Livingston constituents listen to? Should it be the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, NFU Scotland or Salmon Scotland, all of which have welcomed the deal, or should they listen to John Swinney, who is lining up with the Leader of the Opposition and the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage) in a desperate, misguided attempt to create a constitutional grievance over a deal that the Deputy First Minister of Scotland has called “important progress”?”
“Innovation is one of Britain’s great strengths, with fast-growing firms driving over £1 trillion into the UK economy and supporting 3.2 million jobs. However, many of those firms, many of which are based in my constituency, still face stubborn barriers to scaling up, particularly around accessing long-term finance. How will the Mansion House accord help channel greater investment from pension funds into those scale-ups to help them grow?”
“I have been asked by many of my Livingston constituents for reassurance on the Government’s proposed welfare changes. Can the Secretary of State assure the House that these reforms will genuinely help people into decent, secure work, all the while protecting those who clearly cannot work due to ill health or disability?”
“I thank the Minister for that answer. I recently had the pleasure of meeting with the West Lothian Litter Pickers, who are doing so much in my Livingston constituency to reduce the causes and symptoms of fly-tipping and littering, but it is scandalous that their work is needed. In Scotland, the latest figures show that only 1.2% of fly-tipping incidents have resulted in a fixed penalty notice and a mere 0.2% in a criminal prosecution. Does the Minister agree that, in sharp contrast with this UK Labour Government, who are taking a zero-tolerance approach and cracking down on fly-tipping, the Scottish Government’s record in this area is, quite frankly, rubbish?”
“Lung cancer causes more deaths in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK. In England, early detection programmes are under way, and by 2028 every patient is likely to gain access to screening. In Scotland, doctors tell me that that programme is a distant dream. Does my hon. Friend agree that the SNP is failing Scottish patients and Scottish healthcare professionals? This UK Government are getting on with the task of fighting this deadly cancer.”
“The conclusion of the negotiations on this free trade agreement is a major win for Scotland’s economy and for my Livingston constituency in particular, given that we bottle Glenmorangie whisky and bake Paterson’s shortbread. We also have a strong and growing digital services sector, particularly with small and medium-sized enterprises. Can the Minister say a bit more about how this deal will help those businesses, too?”
“T2. The exam season is well under way in Scotland, and I think the whole House will join me in wishing pupils in Livingston and across Scotland luck over the coming weeks, and in thanking teachers for preparing during the academic year. Closing the attainment gap between the richest and poorest pupils in Scotland was the SNP Government’s “defining mission”, but the latest statistics show that it is increasing year on year, and 1,351 pupils are leaving Scottish schools without any qualifications at all—”
“I strongly welcome the Home Secretary’s commissioning of Baroness Casey to conduct the national audit. Further to the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes Central (Emily Darlington), can the Minister confirm whether the growing prevalence of online group-based sexual exploitation of children will form part of the report, and will she provide an update on the Home Office response to that growing crime?”
“The Secretary of State rightly outlines how important the oil and gas sector is to Scotland, and to the workers and businesses that rely on it, but if we are to have a truly just transition, we need to invest in new technologies such as hydrogen. Will he, therefore, join me in welcoming the shortlisting of the Selms Muir hydrogen project in Livingston for UK Government support, and outline how that will benefit my constituency?”
“For defence companies in Scotland, UK Export Finance plays a crucial role in financing sales to our allies around the world, including Ukraine. Will the Chancellor outline how the increase in capacity for UK Export Finance will help defence companies in Scotland to create jobs in my Livingston constituency and strengthen our national defence?”
“My constituents will welcome the Secretary of State’s commitment today to protecting with dignity those who cannot work because they are so severely disabled or because of illness. There are many sick and disabled people who can work with the right support, so can my right hon. Friend confirm that those people will get the support they need to get into work to build a better life for them and their families?”
“Although Conservative Members have tried to make much of the number of Government amendments, we remember that they are still the party of “Eff business”. With their opposition to the Bill, they show that they are “Eff workers”, too. What the amendments in fact demonstrate is the commitment of the Minister and the Government to listening and consulting with a huge range of stakeholders on these issues, delivering the largest upgrade in workers’ rights in many decades, but in a way that does right by businesses and good employers, ensuring that they have the conditions and environment they need to encourage investment and create jobs. This Bill will support the Government’s critical mission for growth by increasing productivity and putting money back in people’s pockets. It will deliver real-life improvements.”