PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Refuges: Domestic Abuse (14 January 2020)

Domestic abuse is an abhorrent crime and we are determined to better protect and support the victims of abuse and their children and bring perpetrators to justice. As part of transforming the response to domestic abuse, we will make sure that councils across the country are legally required to provide life-saving support in safe housing, to survivors of domestic abuse and their children. We have committed to including this new duty in the Domestic Abuse Bill when it is re-introduced in Parliament.

I can confirm that the Justice Secretary is in regular contact with his Cabinet colleagues on domestic abuse, including the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government whose Department is responsible for the provision of funding for refuge spaces. Both myself and the Justice Secretary support their continued investment in increasing the number of bed spaces available to victims of domestic abuse, including a further £15m for refuges and safe accommodation projects for next year (20/21).