§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many refuge centres for 452W battered wives are available in Scotland; where they are; how many places are provided in each of these centres; and what financial contribution the Government have made to such centres in each of the past four years.
§ Mr. William RossSuch information as is available in my Department about existing refuges for battered wives is given below. The number of places provided in each centre is not known centrally.
Location and Provision
Edinburgh
2×4-apartment houses rented from district council by Edinburgh Women's Aid. First home opened December 1973.2×3-apartment flats purchased by Edinburgh YWCA for unsupported women including battered wives. Opened January 1975.Salvation Army Home for Women.Glasgow
2×4-apartment houses rented from district council by Interval House Group. First home opened February 1974.Community Ministers' Centre.Salvation Army Home for Women.Dundee
Salvation Army Home for Women.Aberdeen
District council house available to social work department as refuge.East Kilbride
4-apartment house provided jointly by District Council and East Kilbride and Stone-house Development Corporation. Opened December 1974.Dyce
Farmhouse allocated to local Women's Aid Group. Opened May-June 1975.Several of these schemes are being assisted by the local authority under Section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.
Central Government grant under the 1968 Act is normally reserved for projects of potential national benefit but may be given to assist local projects of an experimental nature. Grant of up to £2,600 per annum for two years towards the salary and expenses of a social worker has been offered in respect of one of the YWCA schemes in Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh Women's Aid scheme has been the subject of an application, through the local authority, for inclusion in the urban aid programme and a grant of up to £2,000 per annum for three years has been approved in principle.