§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what studies she is making of the effectiveness or otherwise in breaking into the cycle of family violence of the work being done at Chiswick Women's Aid and other women's aid centres.
§ Mr. MeacherMy Department is commissioning research on several aspects of the problem of family violence, including the intervention and activities of organisations aiming to help families and the rôle of women's aid centres in assisting battered wives. Direction and detail are under discussion with the researchers.
§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement about the recent meeting her officials had with representatives of Chiswick Women's Aid and of the London borough of Hounslow.
§ Mr. MeacherOfficials of my Department were present as observers when members and officials of the London borough of Hounslow met representatives of Chiswick Women's Aid on 4th March. Following the meeting, Hounslow agreed to seek an adjournment of court proceedings against Chiswick Women's Aid to give time for further efforts to be made to achieve a solution to the problem of overcrowding at the main refuge.