HC Deb 25 November 1993 vol 233 cc569-70
7. Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what extra resources he will be giving to Victim Support schemes.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. David Maclean)

We have increased our grant to Victim Support this year by £1.1 million—from £7.3 million to £8.4 million. I cannot give details of future funding for Victim Support in advance of the Budget statement on 30 November.

Mrs. Mahon

The Home Secretary will be aware that Victim Support considers that far too little. Nearly 1 million people were referred to the organisation last year—a 19 per cent. increase on the previous year. In my constituency, three part-timers and four volunteers try to cope with the ever-rising numbers; sometimes they have to close the door and turn people away. Is it not time that serious consideration was given to funding this valuable service properly, rather than on a piecemeal basis?

Mr. Maclean

It is not funded on a piecemeal basis. The hon. Lady speaks of a 19 per cent. increase. In the past two years, Victim Support has received a 48 per cent. increase in funds, and it has received an increase of more than 60 per cent. over the past three years. That is a phenomenal increase for any agency funded by the Home Office, or any other Government Department.

Two years ago, we told Victim Support well in advance that we would be increasing its funding from £5.5 million to £7.2 million to £8.3 million. We told it that there would be generous increases, and gave it time to plan accordingly how to use all that extra money.

Mrs. Peacock

What other measures will my hon. Friend be introducing to help victims?

Mr. Maclean

The measures announced by my right hon. and learned Friend at Blackpool were not simply about reforming the criminal law but about accepting the recommendations of the royal commission on helping victims of crime. We intend to put them into effect as soon as possible. In addition to funding Victim Support, there is much that we can do to help victims have confidence in the criminal justice system, as well as having the most generous compensation system for victims of crime of any country in the world.

Mr. Gerrard

Will the Minister give serious consideration to filling a gap which exists at the moment, either directly through Victim Support or through other schemes, to give some professional long-term support and bereavement counselling to those who have had family members murdered?

Mr. Maclean

The hon. Gentleman raises a very good point. My officials at the Home Office have talked to families for bereaved who came to see them specifically. I have studied what they had to say and I am sympathetic to the point that families who have lost relatives through murder or other circumstances are a special category with special needs. Victim Support does some very good work with them. However, I have an open mind on how we can best help that special category of people who have lost relatives through murder or manslaughter.