HC Deb 29 March 1993 vol 222 cc102-3W
Ms Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what initiatives his Government have taken during the last three years to help women, with and without children, who are victims of domestic violence.

Mr. Jack

The Government take very seriously violence against women. A wide range of initiatives across Government has been taken in recent years to tackle domestic violence. These are directed towards ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice; that victims receive the necessary material emotional support, and that steps are taken towards prevention in the long term. A new interdepartmental official group has been established to co-ordinate future work, and Ministers will take forward their proposals.

Action has been taken to improve the criminal justice response to domestic violence. In July 1990, guidance was issued to the police in England and Wales and Scotland to ensure a quick and effective response. The RUC issued a similar force order in 1991. A study is in hand to assess the effects of the guidance in England and Wales. The Crown prosecution service is updating its comprehensive guidance issued to staff for dealing with domestic violence cases. The Lord Chancellor is giving detailed consideration to the recommendations for action through the civil court contained in the Law Commission report on "Domestic Violence and the occupation of the Family Home".

An increasing number of schemes and projects are being developed to provide help and support for victims. Safer cities projects have between them funded over 100 schemes aimed at the problem of domestic violence. Derby, Hull, Islington, and Tower Hamlets are funding domestic violence workers. Multi-agency groups to tackle the issue have been established in many areas. The Leicester project has set up a major initiative to fit emergency alarms to the homes of women at risk from their partners. In Hammersmith and Fulham, a scheme has been funded to support the children of women experiencing domestic violence. In Northern Ireland, domestic violence forums were set up in Newtonabbey and Lisburn in 1992 under the safer cities initiative.

The Department of Health grant aids the Women's Aid Federation (England), which co-ordinates and supports the work of refuge groups nationally. Similar annual funding is made to Scottish Women's Aid, Welsh Women's Aid, and Northern Ireland Women's Aid respectively by the Scottish and Welsh Offices and Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland.

In addition, the Department of Health is funding a national domestic violence telephone helpline run by WAF(E). In 1992–93, an extra £438,000 was provided by the Welsh Office to support projects in individual refuges and advice centres. The third edition of the homelessness code of guidance issued by the Department of Environment in 1991 advised local authorities that victims of domestic violence should be considered homeless and in priority need.

A wide range of action is being undertaken to prevent domestic violence in the long-term. A women's safety package, which includes a section dealing with domestic violence, is currently being produced by the Scottish Office crime prevention unit. Two innovative projects in Scotland, the CHANGE project in Central region and the Lothian probation project, are aimed at changing the behaviour of men who abuse their partners. They are being evaluated in a three-year study, which began in. 1991.

The Government will continue to support research to inform future policy development. The Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland has been involved in a major research project over the last year into domestic violence in Northern Ireland. A draft final report on the project is presently being considered by the Department. The Home Office programme development unit is funding several innovative projects over the next three years. A 24-hour civilian team has been attached to Islington police station to help provide specialised counselling, advice and referral alongside an enhanced criminal justice response to domestic violence.

The Leeds inter-agency project is supporting a number of schemes, including the attachment of counsellors to GP surgeries to deal with the particular needs of children affected by domestic violence. In Keighley, a programme of activities will be developed on gender issues and family violence for use in schools and youth clubs. My Department is also evaluating a Merseyside police pilot project which provides alarm systems for women at risk.