Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that women from BAME communities who have (1) experienced, and (2) reported, domestic abuse receive adequate advice, support and counselling and, where necessary, emergency housing and financial assistance.

We are in frequent contact with the domestic abuse sector, including specialist BAME organisations, as well as the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, to understand the impact of covid-19 on BAME communities.

Following increases in calls to domestic abuse helplines and online services, the Home Secretary announced an additional £2m to bolster organisations’ capacity on April 11. This is currently being allocated.

This is in addition to £28m of Government funding for domestic abuse charities to help survivors of domestic abuse and their children by providing more safe spaces, accommodation and access to support services during the coronavirus outbreak.