§ Baroness Anelay of St Johnsasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to ensure that victims of domestic violence can get access to safety and support, including refuge services, funded through the Supporting People arrangements; and what funds were committed to this work by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister during 2003. [HL727]
§ The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker)The Supporting People programme, which was launched on 1 April 2003, has put in place a new integrated policy and funding framework for housing-related support services, including those people experiencing domestic violence.
So far the programme has funded accommodation-related outreach services, support and resettlement for victims of domestic violence, as well as funding housing-related support for women who are staying in refuges. The current annual expenditure for domestic violence services under the Supporting People programme is approximately £56 million for 2003–04.