robert halfon, good to speak to you- _ that they need. robert halfon, good to speak to you.t it has— that this problem is widescale. that it has been— that this problem is widescale. that it has been widescale for a long time _ it has been widescale for a long time and — it has been widescale for a long time. and actually, the government doesn't _ time. and actually, the government doesn't even collect data on it, was what _ doesn't even collect data on it, was what was _ doesn't even collect data on it, was what was found by the committee. so actually. _ what was found by the committee. so actually. we _ what was found by the committee. so actually, we had to use a variety of different _ actually, we had to use a variety of different survey sources that said things— different survey sources that said things like a third of 16 to 18—year—old girls had been sexually assaulted — 18—year—old girls had been sexually assaulted. two thirds of girls aged 13 to 21_ assaulted. two thirds of girls aged 13 to 21 said they had been sexually harassed _ 13 to 21 said they had been sexuall

. —— robert halfon.e reverse. what on earth is going on in our society that some male pupils arrive at school that way? we need to ask these questions and there aren't any easy answers, but clearly there is responsibility at school, absolutely, but there is also a responsibility at home as well. the labour leader keir starmer has just backed that goal as well and it is clear there are deeper issues to examine here about behaviour, culture, boundaries and respect and young men's attitude towards sex and pornography, there have been previous attempts to reform sex education at schools which failed, there was resistance, also attempts to bring in age verification for pornography, there are practical explanations but a lot to work out about culture here.— a french pharmaceutical company has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, over a drug which was linked to hundreds of deaths. the company produced a drug called mediator, a treatment for diabetes and weight loss, for more than three decades, despit

i'm joined now by robert halfon, the conservative mp for harlow and chair of the commons education ofi have urged there is a serious, independent enquiry into safeguarding in schools, whether or not it is fit for purpose, what has been going on in the schools, what was done by the head teachers and the governors to deal with these problems and whether the action taken was the right action. we also need to ensure that these schools provide counselling for all the victims of sexual harassment and abuse, funded counselling, mental health well—being support. i welcome the helpline that has just been announced, something that i have been calling for, that should be permanent. there should be a permanent. there should be a permanent helpline so that any student who suffers any kind of harassment and abuse, so called great culture, that they should be able to report it and be looked after immediately. home able to report it and be looked after immediately. able to report it and be looked after immediatel . ., . ., after immediately. how concerned are ou that after immediately. how concerned