Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which other government departments were (a) consulted on and (b) involved in developing his Department’s independent external audit of domestic abuse services.
Answered by Nigel Adams
During the development of our independent external audit of domestic abuse services, we consulted with a number of Government departments which play a key role in domestic abuse and/or victims policy. We have worked with the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, Department for Health, Department for Education and the Government Equalities Office, all of which have been instrumental in helping us develop a robust and comprehensive audit. We also hope to work closely with departments which have an extended interest in the review, such as the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Treasury, as we progress with this work.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 May 2018 to Question 146873, on victim support schemes, which other government departments have been (a) consulted on and (b) involved in his Department’s full review of domestic abuse services.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has consulted with a number of Government Departments which play a key role in domestic abuse and/or victims policy. We have worked with the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, Department for Health, Department for Education and the Government Equalities Office, all of which have been instrumental in helping us develop a robust and comprehensive audit. We also hope to work closely with Departments which have an extended interest in the review, such as the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Treasury, as we progress with this work.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the independent, external audit of domestic abuse services commissioned by his Department will specifically identify specialist domestic abuse services targeted at children and young people.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
I can confirm that the independent, external audit of domestic abuse services commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government does ask local authorities to submit information on services that they provide to children and young people who have been affected by domestic violence and abuse. The audit, due to close mid June, will give us a comprehensive picture of provision across England and will inform decisions on future funding arrangements for domestic abuse services.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress has been made on the independent and external audit of domestic abuse services commissioned by his Department which is due to be completed in spring 2018.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
We have appointed Ipsos MORI to run the audit of local authority commissioned domestic abuse services. Every local authority has been written to asking for their participation.
An online audit questionnaire for completion by local authorities has been developed in consultation with domestic abuse sector partners and a number of local authorities. The questionnaire responses will give us a picture of domestic abuse service provision across the country, enabling us to assess what impact services are having and to identify any gaps in provision.
We are continuing to work closely with domestic abuse sector partners, drawing on their data, expertise and knowledge as we explore all options for the future sustainable delivery of domestic abuse services in England.
The findings from the audit will help to inform our full review of domestic abuse services which will conclude in the summer.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps have been taken to work with faith leaders to increase the number of signatories to the declaration condemning female genital mutilation and to use that declaration to help drive cultural change against such mutilation since 2016.
Answered by Rishi Sunak
Since publication of the Female Genital Mutilation Faith Declaration in 2014, over 250 representatives of faith communities have added their signatures, sending a clear message to communities across the UK that the practice is an extreme form of violence against women and girls and is not supported by any religious doctrine. We call on all faith communities across the UK to condemn the unacceptable practice of Female Genital Mutilation.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, (a) how much has been paid to officials of his Department as an additional incentive for working overtime on top of their normal overtime payments, (b) how much has been offered to any individual staff member for a one-off occurrence, (c) how many staff received such incentivised additional payments, (d) from which budgets such payments were made and (e) at which Ministerial or official level the business cases or payment approval for such payments was made in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) 2016 to date.
Answered by Mark Francois - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Officials in my Department do not receive additional incentives for working overtime on top of normal overtime payments.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of domestic violence refuges which have closed as a result of lack of funding in each of the last five years.
Answered by Marcus Jones
Domestic Abuse is a devastating crime. That is why we are determined to ensure that victims get the help they need when they need it. In last year's Spending Review we secured new £40 million funding to support victims of domestic abuse.
It is for local areas to assess their needs for domestic abuse services and to make decisions on the provision of safe accommodation, including refuges and support for victims of domestic abuse.
In the new Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy published on the 8 March, we set out our ambition to improve services for women suffering from domestic abuse, commiting to a new Statement of Expectations to set out for the first time what we expect from local areas.
To support this, we are launching a new two year fund for refuges and other forms of accommodation-based support and to help local areas take the steps they need to meet the National Statement.
The new funding builds on the £3.5 million funding to support victims of domestic abuse and is on top of the £10 million funding to stop refuges closing and strengthen the provision of safe accommodation in the last spending review period.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many women living in council housing have requested a change of tenancy because of violence in the last 12 months; and what proportion of those women were given a direct transfer within one month.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
We do not hold the information requested.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.112 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, how much of the planned £40 million spending for services for victims of domestic abuse he plans will be spent in each of the next four years; and in each such year what programmes or policies that spending is planned to support.
Answered by Marcus Jones
Details of how the £40 million fund will be used to support victims of domestic abuse will be announced shortly.