§ Ms Roseanna CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money he has allocated to the provision of women's refuges over the past three years. [80997]
§ Mrs. LiddellLocal authorities are responsible for the financial support of women's refuges as they are best placed to consider the priorities and care needs of the population within their area. The Government have provided substantial resources to enable authorities to meet their social work and housing responsibilities. In addition, we have provided £200,000 under the Urban Programme (now the Social Inclusion Partnership Fund) in the three years to March 1998 specifically for Council support of women's refuges.
In the three years to March 1999, the Scottish Office provided grants of over £664,000 to Scottish Women's Aid, the national voluntary organisation to which the majority of local women's aid refuges are affiliated. We 131W provided an additional £150,000 earlier this year following the public response to the recent domestic abuse advertising campaign.
From 1 July 1999, these matters will be for the Scottish Parliament.