Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Violence Against Women and Girls

Tuesday 29 June 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government is investing over 150 million in victim support services and working on a victims' Bill to enshrine rights and explore support for violence against women and girls.
  • Funding for specialist domestic abuse and sexual violence services has been boosted by 51 million, including new hires for independent advisers.
  • Minister emphasizes engagement with police in developing a new strategy for violence against women and girls, encouraging victims to pursue complaints.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Florence Eshalomi Labour (Co-op) Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Justice & Courts Women & Equalities
Context

The question arises from the need to improve support services for victims facing violence.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to improve support in the justice system for the victims of violence against women and girls?

Answer from Kit Malthouse

We are investing in vital victim support services to the tune of more than £150 million this year. The forthcoming victims Bill will enshrine victims' rights in law and explore the provision of domestic abuse and sexual violence support. We are also working with the Home Secretary to develop new violence against women and girls and domestic abuse strategies.

Partly answered

How: Under Review, Exploring

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Q2 Darren Henry
Crime & Law Enforcement Women & Equalities
Context

The question comes in response to the rise in domestic abuse cases during the pandemic and the work done by local organizations like the Broxtowe Women's Project.

Question

During this pandemic, we have seen an unprecedented rise in domestic abuse cases. Will the Minister outline what the Government are doing to ensure that they are tackling domestic abuse? Will he also set out their plans to provide long-term support, both to those who are directly affected and to their children?

Answer from Kit Malthouse

We have boosted funding for specialist services by £51 million, including £20.7 million for local community-based sexual violence and domestic abuse services and a £27 million investment to recruit more independent sexual and domestic violence advisers. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 contains new measures to protect victims and will be followed by new strategies.

Answered
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Q3 Florence Eshalomi Labour (Co-op) Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Crime & Law Enforcement Women & Equalities
Context

A constituent reported a mishandled case by the police, highlighting issues with burden of proof and lack of belief from authorities.

Question

Mr Speaker, Domestic abuse victims have to be taken seriously and listened to. That is a direct quote from a letter to me from a constituent who suffered physical, emotional and financial abuse. She came to my surgery not to talk about him, but for help with dealing with the police, who she says mishandled her case... Can the Minister tell me what steps he is taking to bring about a culture change in the police so that victims of domestic violence are believed from the outset?

Answer from Kit Malthouse

We will be engaging the police as part of our work towards a new violence against women and girls strategy, ensuring that every victim who comes forward is taken into account. The Minister encourages pursuing complaints through provisions available to victims.

Partly answered

How: Pursue Complaint

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Q4 Anna McMorrin Lab Cardiff North
Women & Equalities
Context

Two women were murdered by a violent sex offender, highlighting failures in justice system and need for better victim safeguarding.

Question

Henriett Szucs and Jan Mustafa were brutally murdered... Two women each week are murdered by a current or former partner. Labour has a ready-to-go plan including review of domestic violence and homicides; new progress indicators, as we have in Wales; more sustainable funding; and better access to specialist support services. The Minister has the power to stop violence against women being an afterthought in the justice system, so will he work with us to achieve it?

Answer from Kit Malthouse

I reject the assertion that violence against women is an afterthought for this Government. We are setting key priorities including murder suppression and reduction, entering a second round of homicide murder roundtables with police forces, and looking at their murder prevention strategies.

Partly answered

How: Reject Assertion

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