Asked by: Baroness Penn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the provisions relating to Northern Ireland contained in the Domestic Abuse Bill, considered by the House of Commons in 2019, will be included in the forthcoming Domestic Abuse Bill; and what assessment they have made of the inclusion of such provisions on the UK’s ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
In a written ministerial statement on 10 February 2020, the Northern Ireland First Minister and Deputy First Minister announced that a Domestic Abuse Bill was one of the Bills that the Minister of Justice intended to introduce during the 2019-20 Assembly session (the statement is available at: http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/official-reports/written-ministerial-statements/2019-2020/bv125_wms_teo_100220.pdf).
The Northern Ireland Bill will include the new domestic abuse offence criminalising controlling or coercive behavior which was previously in Part 2 of the Domestic Abuse Bill introduced in the UK Parliament in July 2019. The offence is required to ensure that the law in Northern Ireland satisfies the requirements of Article 33 (psychological violence) of the Istanbul Convention. As domestic abuse legislation is a devolved matter, it is preferable for legislation relating to such matters to be delivered through the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The Domestic Abuse Bill as re-introduced in the UK Parliament will continue to include Northern Ireland provisions extending the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the criminal courts to certain violent and sexual offences (required to satisfy the requirements of Article 44 (jurisdiction) of the Istanbul Convention). We are in discussion with the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice about the timetable for the Assembly Bill, with reference to the UK’s progress towards ratification of the Istanbul Convention.
Asked by: Baroness Penn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the further actions they committed to in their response to the report by the Joint Committee on the Draft Domestic Abuse Bill have been completed; and if they have not been completed, whether those actions will be completed in time to be reflected in the forthcoming budget.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
We indicated in our initial response to the Joint Committee’s report, published in July 2019, that we would publish a further response in due course addressing around ten recommendations where we needed more time to fully consider the Committee’s proposals. We aim to publish that further response alongside the Domestic Abuse Bill.
We will also publish an updated impact assessment alongside the Bill. As the Minister for Safeguarding and Vulnerability indicated at Second Reading of the Bill in the last Parliament (Official Report, House of Commons, 2 October 2019, column 1331), we will prioritise the funding for the Bill in the 2020 Spending Review.
Asked by: Baroness Penn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the period of time that victims of domestic abuse who are applying for indefinite leave to remain can claim public funds under the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
In response to the recommendations from the Joint Committee on the Draft Domestic Abuse Bill, the Government committed to review the scope and duration of the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession.
We have carefully considered the Committee’s recommendations and the evidence provided by stakeholders on the issue. The evidence gathering stage of the review into support levels for migrant victims of domestic abuse has now completed and its findings are being considered.
Asked by: Baroness Penn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that all migrants who have been victims of domestic violence have access to the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession and other support.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
In response to the recommendations from the Joint Committee on the Draft Domestic Abuse Bill, the Government committed to review the scope and duration of the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession.
We have carefully considered the Committee’s recommendations and the evidence provided by stakeholders on the issue. The evidence gathering stage of the review into support levels for migrant victims of domestic abuse has now completed and its findings are being considered.
Asked by: Baroness Penn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to publish a further response to the report by the Joint Committee on the Draft Domestic Abuse Bill, published on 14 June 2019, Session 2017–19 (HL Paper 378, HC 2075), as committed to in their response to the report, published in July 2019 (CP 137).
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
We indicated in our initial response to the Joint Committee’s report, published in July 2019, that we would publish a further response in due course addressing around ten recommendations where we needed more time to fully consider the Committee’s proposals.
We aim to publish that further response alongside the Domestic Abuse Bill. As the Leader of the House of Commons has indicated (Official Report, House of Commons, 23 January 2020, column 423), we expect to re-introduce the Bill ahead of the Easter recess.
Asked by: Baroness Penn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when their review into the statutory response to migrant victims of domestic abuse will be completed; and whether they intend to publish the outcome of that review.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Domestic abuse is a heinous crime and the Government is committed to strengthening its overall response and supporting all survivors.
The evidence gathering phase of the review of support levels for migrant victims of domestic abuse has now been completed and the Government is considering the way forward in the light of the findings.
Asked by: Baroness Penn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the progress made towards ratification of the Istanbul Convention, including with regards to any forthcoming Domestic Abuse Bill.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
In accordance with the Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Act 2017, the Government publishes an annual report on progress towards ratification of the Istanbul Convention.
The most recent annual report was published on 31 October 2019 and is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/843509/CCS0919132732-001_Istanbul_Convention_2019_Report_Option_A_Web_Accessible.pdf
The landmark Domestic Abuse Bill was announced alongside the Queen’s Speech on 19 December 2019. Subject to parliamentary approval, we are fully committed to enacting this landmark legislation at the earliest opportunity and implementing it quickly.