§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women's refuges there are in each Greater London borough. [108729]
§ Mr. BoatengRefuges operate independently of Government, and such data are not collected centrally. The most comprehensive and up-to-date information available is contained in "The Gold Book: the Women's Aid Directory of Domestic Violence Research and Helpline168W Services 1999", published last year by the Women's Aid Federation (England). Information is also available on the Women's Aid website, http://www.womensaid.org.uk.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding has been made available to(a) open and (b) support women's refuge projects in the Greater London area in each of the last three years. [108723]
§ Mr. BoatengRefuges are funded by a range of sources, rather than directly by central Government. In some cases, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, through the Housing Corporation, provides capital and revenue funding. Other income comes from the rents paid by users (who may be relying on Housing Benefit support), local authorities, charities, trusts, private donations and their own fund-raising activities. Some refuge projects work in partnership with Housing Associations. Because of this the information requested is not available.
The paper "Supporting People" outlined plans to introduce a new policy and funding framework for the provision of supported accommodation for all who need it, including the survivors of domestic violence, from April 2003.