Domestic Abuse: Emergency Accommodation

Baroness Burt of Solihull Excerpts

Wednesday 26th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Levitt (Lab)]

As the noble Baroness knows, I broadly agree with pretty much everything she says. That is why the Government are working on the three strands of dealing with domestic abuse: the first is prevention, the second is robust enforcement against those who perpetrate it, and the third is support for victims.

[Baroness Burt of Solihull (LD)]

My Lords, victims of domestic abuse can fail to qualify to bid for a permanent home because of debt issues often not of their own making. Families and children across the country can be trapped in temporary accommodation because of debt accumulated by the abuser. Should there not be a national rule whereby coerced debt should be excused to help abused families out of the debt trap and into a permanent home?

[Baroness Levitt (Lab)]

The noble Baroness makes a really important point. On Monday I addressed a reception held in one of the rooms in this Palace hosted by the charity Surviving Economic Abuse. Listening to what was said there reminded me—I hope I did not need reminding, but it made it starkly clear—that for the survivors, economic abuse is every bit as pernicious and damaging as actual violence, or controlling or coercive behaviour. We are acutely aware of this and are doing everything we can to ensure that it is recognised and dealt with.