§ Baroness Turner of Camdenasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the national domestic violence helpline will be available. [HL445]
§ Lord RookerThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has today announced a new service providing a single freephone helpline for people seeking help with domestic violence. The helpline service was part of a package of funding announced in December 2002 providing a total of £2 million over three years to support the development of the helpline and 'ukrefugesonline' to provide more effective help in finding domestic violence services. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working in partnership with Comic Relief, with each contributing £1 million to the initiative, and with Refuge and Women's Aid, who will be running the helpline.