§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of state for Social Services if, in the light of the fact the majority of battered women admitted to Chiswick Women's Aid come from areas where there is said to be a refuge and of the fact that there remain areas where no other provision exists, he will now reconsider his decision to end the grant formerly given to Chiswick Women's Aid.
§ Mr. DeakinsNo. Battered women often wish to move away from their previous homes and Chiswick Women's Aid is not the only refuge to admit them from other areas. The number and spread of refuges are now much improved and the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act,326W which comes into effect on 1st December, lays a duty on housing authorities to secure that accommodation is available for homeless bettered women with their children.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why no representative of his Department has visited Chiswick Women's Aid in pursuance of the undertaking to inquire into its status as a therapeutic care community for women and children who are victims of violence in the home and in order to determine whether it should be supported.
§ Mr. DeakinsTo augment the experience of previous visits by representatives of the Department, we have sought the views of directors of social services. We now await other independent views which have been sought to enable us to arrive at an objective conclusion.