HC Deb 07 March 1978 vol 945 cc1203-4
4. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research is being financed by his Department into the problems of battered wives.

The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Eric Deakins)

A study of the incidence of violence in marriage and legal, medical and social services implications; a study of the provision and assessment of services for battered women; and a study of women who have left a refuge and how their stay helped them.

Mr. Hooley

I am obliged to my hon. Friend for that information. Is he aware of the valuable work being done by the Sheffield Association for Battered Wives? Will his Department take some interest in that work, either by way of study or perhaps by way of direct help?

Mr. Skinner

What about battered husbands?

Mr. Deakins

We are always pleased to hear of research that is not being sponsored by my Department. We provide a big grant to the National Women's Aid Federation, and I hope that we can maintain contact with research that is going on in various refuges up and down the country through that national organisation.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Is the Minister aware that battered wives—and, no doubt, battered husbands—change their minds and that frequently, having made a complaint to the police, they will then withdraw and refuse to give evidence when the matter comes to the courts, either out of a desire for reconciliation or out of fear? However, there is a very real problem in getting the evidence brought forward in order to make cases stick in the courts.

Mr. Deakins

With respect, that is another question, and I am not even sure that it is a matter for my Department. I suspect that it is a matter for the Home Office.

Mr. Ashley

Is my hon. Friend aware that absolute rubbish is talked on behalf of the police about battered wives withdrawing their complaints? The police are wholly unsympathetic to battered wives. Therefore, will my hon. Friend discuss with the Home Secretary the need for a change in police attitudes to this terrible problem?

Mr. Deakins

I certainly take note of what my hon. Friend has said. So far as my Department is concerned, we are well aware of the problem of battered wives and fully sympathetic towards the problems that they have to face.

Mr. MacKay

Does the Minister agree that there is an element of sex discrimination in this question when we learn from certain experience that there are just as many battered husbands in our society?

Mr. Deakins

With respect, this is a Question about battered wives, and not battered husbands. Most of the public concern about the need for refuges which has been expressed in the past few years has been in favour of women and not men.

Mr. Hodgson

Does the Minister's research confirm that there is an urgent need for homes in which battered wives can make the transition from the emotionally fraught atmosphere of their homes to more normal living conditions? Has this urgent need been confirmed by his research?

Mr. Deakins

The research that we have sponsored so far has not dealt with that particular problem. We are looking at the possibility of doing something to aid Chiswick Women's Aid, which claims to be a unique therapeutic community. At present we are in discussion with the Royal College of Psychiatrists to see whether there is anything in this claim.