§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an estimate of(a) the number of places in women's refuges in England and Wales and (b) the number of women passing through women's refuges, in the most recent year for which figures are available.
§ Sir George YoungMy Department does not hold information on the number of places in women's refuges nor the number of women passing through them. The Housing Corporation in 1992–93 provided funding for 1,730 bedrooms in 132 refuge schemes managed by housing associations. This provision is part of the Housing Corporation's revenue funding. The corporation also provides capital funding to women's refuges managed by housing associations.