§ Jackie BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resources the Government intends to devote to refuge and rape crisis networks for(a) 1999 to 2000 and (b) future years. [78872]
§ Mr. BoatengThe main national umbrella organisations for local refuge projects are the Women's Aid Federation of England and its sister organisations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In 1999 to 2000, Women's Aid (England) is to receive a total of £229,795. The Department of Health will contribute £107,500 core funding, £29,205 for an awareness-raising project and £49,000 for a national telephone helpline service. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions will contribute £44,000 under the Special Grants Programme to develop training opportunities, resources and facilities.
Core funding to Welsh Women's Aid is provided by the Welsh Office. Figures for 1999 to 2000 have not yet been finalised.
602WThe Scottish Office has committed £226,000 to Scottish Women's Aid for 1999 to 2000. From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
In Northern Ireland in 1999 to 2000, the Department of Health and Social Services will fund Northern Ireland Women's Aid for core administration work and project funding, to a value of £170,000. The Northern Ireland Office has set aside £30,000 to fund the Women's Aid helpline.
The majority of Government funding for refuges themselves is indirect and, therefore, cannot be quantified. It includes the funding of registered social landlords through the Housing Corporation, some funding through local authorities and the Single Regeneration Budget, and some funding of revenue costs through the payment of housing benefit to residents.
The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Department of Health and the Women's Unit have commissioned a package of research into the accommodation and support services available in England to those experiencing domestic violence. This information will be used to assist local authorities in making decisions about what further provision they need to make in their localities.
In Northern Ireland, the Department of the Environment intends to commit £1.8 million capital funding and £1.4 million revenue funding in 1999 to 2000 to women's refuges. In 2000 to 2001, these figures will be £0.6 million capital and £1.4 million revenue, and in 2001 to 2002 they will be £1.7 million capital and £1.4 million revenue.
Rape crisis centres currently receive public funds through, for example, local authorities, rather than central Government funding. The Government's consultation paper "Supporting people", published in December 1998, contains proposals for an improved funding framework for support services of this kind. The consultation period ended on 5 February and the responses are now being analysed. We cannot yet give precise commitments, but we have guaranteed that the total budget in 1999 to 2000 for the new "Supporting people" scheme will be at least the same as what was spent in 1998 to 1999 in the various budgets that the scheme will replace.
In Northern Ireland in 1999 to 2000, the Department of Health and Social Services will provide £31,000 core funding for the Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre and £54,000 core funding to Nexus, a voluntary organisation providing a counselling service for adult victims of rape and sexual abuse.