Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent progress has been made on reducing violence against women.

The Coalition Government ring-fenced £40m as part of our strategy to end violence against women and girls. We have criminalised forced marriage, introduced new stalking offences and announced a new offence of coercive and controlling behaviour in relation to domestic abuse. The prevalence of sexual assault against women has fallen to a new low of 2.2%, the reporting of these hidden crimes has increased and prosecutions for domestic and sexual violence are rising.