§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the total current annual cost to the Scottish Office of giving financial assistance towards the provision of places in refuges for the victims of domestic violence; and what percentage this is of the total cost of provision;
(2) if he will estimate the total cost to his Department if it was to meet the full costs of funding the existing number of places in refuges for the victims of domestic violence in Scotland.
§ Mr. FairgrieveFinancial assistance by the Scottish Office towards the cost of places in refuges for victims of domestic violence in the financial year 1980–81 amounted to approximately £28,500. Because of the number of240W different ways in which such places are funded, it is not possible to provide an estimate of the total cost of provision nor, accordingly, of the potential cost to my right hon. Friend's Department.