Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish guidance on the support available under his economic recovery plan for (a) mothers, (b) lone parents, (c) survivors of domestic abuse and (d) refugees.

The Government has listened to charities and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner about the pressures the sector faces and is providing extra funding for charities which support victims and their children. The Home Office launched an awareness campaign in April called #YouAreNotAlone, in order to raise the profile of domestic abuse victims during COVID-19 and signpost victims to the support services available.

£76 million of support announced in May is helping the most vulnerable in society, including domestic abuse victims, through:

• £10 million from MHCLG for charities providing safe accommodation, such as refuges.
• £2 million from the Home Office for national and other non-local charities providing support to victims of domestic abuse in the community. The fund was opened for bids for the first time on 22 May 2020, closing on 8 June, and £793,000 has now been allocated to 13 successful applicants. On 8 July, the remaining £1,207,000 of the fund was opened for further bids.
• £25 million from the Ministry of Justice to help victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence in the community access support services during the coronavirus outbreak, and a further £3 million per annum investment in Independent Sexual Violence Advisors until 2022.

The Government is allowing households where there is only one adult – including people who live alone or single parents with children under 18 – to form a “support bubble” with another household.

The Plan for Jobs package also provides support to those who have lost their jobs and DWP will ensure that support from Jobcentres and partners addresses the needs of those who are underrepresented in the labour market, such as BAME groups and lone parents.

Through the furlough scheme, the Government has supported those who have been unable to work for childcare reasons. The Government is continuing to fund free early years entitlements, and the minimum income for Tax-Free Childcare has also been temporarily suspended for those who would have met the requirement were it not for the pandemic.