Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Domestic Violence Prevention Services

Wednesday 5 February 2025 · 3 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial tribute paid to Halifax WomenCentre for its work in Calder Valley.
  • Hon. Member Wera Hobhouse highlighted the need for long-term funding certainty for abuse service providers.
  • Christine Jardine cited a National Audit Office report indicating one in 12 women are victims of violence annually.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Josh Fenton-Glynn Lab Calder Valley
Women & Equalities
Context

The Domestic Abuse Commissioner's 2022 report highlighted a 'Patchwork of Provision' in local services, with only six in ten victims able to access helplines and four in ten obtaining refuge accommodation. Local organisations like WomenCentre Calderdale face challenges in providing consistent care.

Question

In her 2022 report, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner warned of ‘A Patchwork of Provision’ in local services. Just six in ten victims reported being able to access a helpline, and only four in ten reported being able to obtain refuge accommodation. Local organisations such as WomenCentre Calderdale do fantastic work for my constituents, but not all victims and survivors have the right support when they need it. Will the Minister ensure that the upcoming violence against women and girls strategy includes a requirement for the Government to engage with the sector so that women across the country receive consistent care and support?

Answer from The Minister for Women and Equalities (Bridget Phillipson)

Let me start by paying tribute to Halifax WomenCentre for its vital work in Calder Valley. I assure my hon. Friend that we will engage across Government, drawing on expertise in the sector through the development of our new violence against women and girls strategy, which will be published later this year. We have provided an increase of £30 million for domestic abuse safe accommodation services, as well as doing wider work to help local commissioners to identify needs and commission appropriate services.

Answered
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Q2 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Women & Equalities
Context

Organisations such as Voices and the Southside project in Bath provide essential support for victims of abuse but require long-term financial security to ensure consistent service delivery.

Question

Organisations such as Voices and the Southside project in Bath provide a wonderful and important service for victims of abuse, but they need the long-term certainty of funding. Does the Minister agree that we need to give them that certainty?

Answer from The Minister for Women and Equalities (Bridget Phillipson)

I am grateful to the hon. Lady for mentioning the excellent organisations in her constituency and the work that they do to support survivors. We are investing more in provision, but I understand her point about the need for security of long-term funding, and we will consider that as part of our VAWG strategy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: long-term certainty of funding not directly addressed

How: Will Consider

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Q3 Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
Women & Equalities
Context

The National Audit Office report suggests that while there is a focus on victims, efforts in prevention are insufficient. With one in 12 women experiencing violence annually and over two million victims in the year up to June 2024, it highlights the need for education and prevention.

Question

We welcome the Government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls, but a recent report from the National Audit Office makes grim reading, stating that one in 12 women are victims of violence every year and that there were more than 2 million victims in the year up to June 2024. It also suggests while there is a welcome focus on victims, we are not doing enough in terms of prevention. How will the Minister ensure that this mission will focus on education and prevention in schools as well as seeking to support every survivor, and is she speaking to the Scottish Government about co-ordination?

Answer from The Minister for Women and Equalities (Bridget Phillipson)

The hon. Lady is right to draw attention to the legacy picture painted by the National Audit Office. We are investing in a new national policing centre for VAWG public protection, and ensuring that we have a real focus on tackling high-risk offenders by intervening much earlier and taking further measures involving domestic abuse specialists. However, as the hon. Lady says, this is also about prevention. It is a responsibility for all of us across society, men and women alike, and there is an important role for education. Work is under way in the Department for Education to ensure that young people, from an early point, understand healthy relationships and what consent looks like. Of course, I am always happy to discuss that with colleagues across the UK.

Partly answered

Not addressed: no specific timeline or commitment on education in schools

How: Work Is Under Way

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