Violence Against Women (Hansard, 23 March 1998)

§ 18. Ms Southworth
What plans she has for tackling violence against women. [34059]

§ Ms Ruddock
The purpose—

§ Ms Southworth
rose—

§ Ms Ruddock
I think that hon. Members are trying to follow your diktat, Madam Speaker, and make their questions rapid and brief.

§ Madam Speaker
It also applies to Ministers.

§ Ms Ruddock
I shall try, Madam Speaker.
The purpose of the national strategy on tackling all forms of violence against women is to create a safer environment for women at home and in the outside world by working to eliminate all forms of violence against women and to empower women to challenge abuse. It will cover the safety of women in personal relationships, on transport, at work and in the community.

§ Ms Southworth
Will my hon. Friend join me in welcoming the two-day conference that will be held in my constituency next month, when local agencies will meet to develop a community plan to take action against domestic violence? Does my hon. Friend agree that those kinds of partnerships are essential if we are to deal with domestic violence, which is an abhorrent crime in which the perpetrators attempt to intimidate the victims so that they are too afraid and ashamed to speak out? Can my hon. Friend confirm that the Government will speak out on behalf of the victims and will root domestic violence out of our society?

§ Ms Ruddock
I thank my hon. Friend for her question. I confirm that the Government are absolutely clear about the fact that domestic violence must be stamped out. I certainly commend the conference to which my hon. Friend referred and I commend partnerships. I recently witnessed an excellent partnership in Norwich involving the local authority and the housing department, which have worked with the police to enable a community care alarm provision for the elderly to be used also by victims of violence. There are many good practices out there from which we can all learn.

§ Mr. Brazier
I welcome the Minister's earlier answer. Will she confirm that one form of domestic violence that 18 is even more common than violence against women is domestic violence against children? Will she reassure the House that children, who have no votes or voices, will be included in the Government's consideration of domestic violence issues?

§ Ms Ruddock
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right: the whole Government are deeply concerned about all aspects of child abuse. When we examine domestic violence—which is categorised as violence affecting adults—we also take into account the effects of such violence upon children. The hon. Gentleman is correct to believe that we are building that consideration into our strategy of concern. My colleagues across government are also paying particular attention to all aspects of child abuse, which we wish to see removed from our society.

§ Lorna Fitzsimons
Although we acknowledge the insidious crime of domestic violence, it is important that the Government strategy makes people aware that our priority is not only domestic violence but all forms of violence against women. Will my hon. Friend tell us something about the cross-departmental workings that are going on to ensure that women can participate fully in the home, in the world of work, on transport and in the community without the fear of violence?

§ Ms Ruddock
I reiterate that the strategy that we are developing seeks to combat all forms of violence against women, including violence against women on transport. In terms of cross-Government working, I assure my hon. Friend that the women's unit and the Ministers for Women are having key input into the co-ordinated transport strategy document being developed by our colleagues in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. It is essential to put women's concerns into all aspects of Government policy. We know that women fear violence when travelling on public transport and we hope that we can do much to make it safer for them in reality while addressing their real fears.