Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the (a) capacity and (b) sustainability of specialist domestic abuse services in responding to covid-19; and whether emergency funding will be made available for those services.

Domestic abuse is unacceptable in any situation, no matter what the stresses. It is an abhorrent crime and perpetrators will be prosecuted.

The Government acknowledges that recent measures announced to tackle coronavirus (COVID-19), such as the order to stay at home, can cause anxiety for those who are experiencing or feel at risk of domestic abuse. We are working closely with the sector to monitor and assess the impacts of the current situation.

The Chancellor has announced a funding package of some £750m to support charities including those providing domestic abuse services. The Home Office has announced an additional £2 million in funding to support technological capability such as specialist helplines and websites.