§ 20. Mr. CatonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support his Department is giving to victims of crime in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [38893]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyI am fully committed to improve services and support to the victims of crime. That is why we have more than doubled the annual grant to Victim Support since May 1997 (from £11.7 million to £25 million), and delivered new services such as witness support in magistrates courts, a national telephone helpline and a victim personal statement scheme.
§ 28. Mrs. Betty WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he gives to police authorities on automatic referral of victims of crime to Victim Support. [38901]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyGuidance about new arrangements for referring details of victims of crime to Victim Support by the police was issued in Home Office Circular 44/2001 of 3 October 2001.