Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the reasons for 57 per cent of referrals to refuge services having been declined in 2019-20.

From extensive engagement with the sector, we know that stable funding and effective commissioning of support within safe accommodation is vital to successful delivery of these services.

Many local areas already provide services that ensure victims have somewhere safe to go.

To support these services further we have introduced a new statutory duty on local authorities within the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 to ensure that all victims, including children, have access to safety and support within safe accommodation when they need it.

This has been backed by £125 million funding for 2021/22 and will be funded in future years.