HC Deb 19 December 2002 vol 396 c985W
Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is on funding research into the prevalence of(a) child abuse in the home and (b) domestic violence that breaks down results by (i) family configuration and/or (ii) marital status. [86541]

Hilary Benn

The Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS) conducts a wide range of social research, development, statistical economics and modelling work, all of which build up the evidence base, produce national statistics and support practical delivery of the Home Office's targets in all seven Home Office aims.

Priorities for R&D are considered as part of a three year rolling business plan built into the overall Home Office planning process and are based on the resource allocations agreed as part of the spending review. The need for research into the prevalence of these two types of violence will continue to be assessed within the context of overall R&D priorities for the department but both will stay high on the agenda due to their seriousness.