This week I was pleased to see the announcement by the Home Secretary of a £40 million package of Government measures to protect children and young people from sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking. The measures will also see a crackdown on the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.
Whilst these are extremely serious issues, worryingly these crimes are being committed right here in our town as well as in other areas across the country. Since 2010 the Government has done more than any other to tackle these horrific offences, by increasing support for victims of sexual abuse, investing in training and technology to improve law enforcement’s response to abuse, and bringing in a tougher inspection regime to ensure all front-line professions are meeting their child protection duties. I have campaigned alongside a number of organisations to raise awareness of these crimes, including the Human Trafficking Foundation, who go to fantastic lengths to ensure that children are able to grow up free from the horrors of sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking.
But there is still more to do. That’s why I welcomed the measures announced this week which included the launch of a new Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, an extra £20 million for the National Crime Agency to tackle online child sexual exploitation, £2.2 million for organisations working to protect children at risk of trafficking and the launch of Independent Child Trafficking Advocates in several sites across the UK. These measures will further improve our ability to protect children, and under our watch we are determined to bring those that would try to steal their childhood to justice.
Elsewhere we saw more good news on jobs as Swindon was recognised as one of the towns with the lowest rates of unemployment in the country, well-below the national average and standing at just 1.3%. Since 2010, unemployment across the town has fallen by more than 60% and there have been over 8,400 new jobs created. Data has also shown that annual wage growth is at 2.6%, outstripping inflation; while youth unemployment is down significantly, the number of disabled people finding work has increased and the percentage of women in employment has reached a record high. This is fantastic news and it is great to see that our town isn’t just matching the national trend which shows unemployment down and wages up – but it is beating them.
Finally I joined my colleague Robert Buckland MP and MEP for the South West Ashley Fox at Honda for an in-depth discussion on the Brexit negotiations. As a major employer for our town, we maintain a close and constructive relationship and I am delighted that Swindon has been chosen yet again as a global production hub for the 10th generation Honda Civic (which began production in January). Whilst it is crucial that we make the best of Brexit and ensure the interests of our major economic contributors, it is good to see that everybody is confident about the global opportunities presented to us.
