Key Facts

• The amendment aims to insert text after line 23 of clause 53 on page 34.
• It seeks to ensure that support provided is for all persons affected by domestic abuse regardless of status.
• The special situation of women and children must be taken into account.
• Amendments strengthen local authorities' duties under Part 4.
• Strategies must address prevalence of domestic abuse, support needs, provision of refuge services for women and children.
• 'Domestic abuse support' is defined as specialist support provided by organisations with a purpose to assist victims and their children.
• Consultations and complaints handling processes are included in the amendments.
• New clause 19 establishes the Secretary of State’s duty to ensure equally effective protection against domestic abuse.
• New clause 20 sets a statutory duty on public authorities to commission specialist services for all persons affected by domestic abuse regardless of status.
• The Secretary of State must prepare and publish a strategic plan every three years from when the section comes into force.
• The national oversight group must include the Domestic Abuse Commissioner.
• Organisations representing providers of specialist support for women and children affected by domestic abuse are included as members.
• Local authority functions under section 53 are to be monitored.
• Regular national needs assessments for refuge services, including provision for victims with protected characteristics, are required.
• Compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty must be monitored.
• The Bill seeks to put a duty on local authorities to assess the need for accommodation-based domestic abuse services and develop a strategy.
• In 2019, over 13% of refuges received no local authority funding.
• Demand for refuge spaces exceeds supply: in 2018-19, 64% of referrals were declined due to lack of space or capacity.
• There are currently 40 refuges specifically catering to black and minoritised women in England.
• Sheldon police station is a former building with planning application for temporary accommodation.
• The amendment seeks to require that relevant accommodation must be safe for survivors and their children, including refuge services.
• Subsections (9) and (10) in the Bill allow for regulations specifying procedure, matters to consider, publication of strategy, consultation with stakeholders.
• The speaker references section 17 of the Children Act as an example of legislative protection.
• Supporting People funding was removed, leading to inconsistent accommodation for victims.
• Holiday Inn and Ibis hotels were used as temporary refuge accommodations during shortages.
• Refuges must provide specific safeguards including licensing agreements.
• The Istanbul convention mandates states to provide specialist services for victims of domestic abuse.
• Welsh Women’s Aid developed a definition of specialist services adopted by the Welsh Government.
• Currently, 68.4% of women in refuge come from outside their local area's funding jurisdiction.
• The government’s programme has failed to recognise the impact on organisations across the sector.
• New clause 48 would establish a national oversight group with responsibilities including monitoring compliance and implementation of equality duties.
• Clause 53 could lead to a two-tier system, benefiting only victims who can access refuge accommodation.
• In 2016-17, 13,000 women were supported in refuge but 2.3 million people experienced domestic abuse that year.
• Clause 53 defines 'domestic abuse support' provided to victims or their children residing in relevant accommodation.
• The duty covers support within safe accommodation services, excluding hotel chains like Ibis unless they provide specialist services.
• Costs of rent and eligible services charges are typically met through welfare benefits such as housing benefit.
• The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government will specify a description of ‘relevant accommodation’ through regulations.
• Part 4 ensures a multi-agency approach to domestic abuse support.
• Tier 1 local authorities will be responsible for creating strategies which must include consultation with the domestic abuse local partnership board.
• Clause 54 sets up local partnership boards to conduct robust local assessments.
• Clause 54 requires boards to reflect local skills and expertise, with different areas having different populations and needs.
• Tier 1 local authorities must submit annual reports to the Secretary of State under clause 55.
• Responsibility for victim support services has been with police and crime commissioners since 2014.
• Funding for victim support services totalled £68 million in 2019-20.
• The new statutory duty applies only to tier 1 local authorities, while community-based support remains with PCCs and CCGs.
• The Bill establishes a multi-agency approach through local partnership boards.
• A statutory duty will be imposed on local authorities to assess domestic abuse support needs and publish strategies.
• The Domestic Abuse Commissioner will lead an in-depth investigation into the current community-based support landscape.
• The regulations mentioned will be laid at Lords Committee stage.
• The MP has been discussing these regulations for six years, beginning before they were elected.
• The duty on community services is something that the whole House and the Lords would wish to discuss further.