Crime: Domestic Violence Debate

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Department: Home Office

Crime: Domestic Violence

Earl of Listowel Excerpts
Thursday 8th March 2012

(12 years, 2 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Verma Portrait Baroness Verma
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I think that my noble friend has had her question answered. On a more serious note, any victim will be supported by this Government. Victim support will always be gender neutral. We are seeing rising numbers of men being violently abused, so I agree completely with the sentiment expressed by my noble friend. This is a gender-neutral issue that we need to take in the round.

Earl of Listowel Portrait The Earl of Listowel
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My Lords, while recognising the devolution to local areas, can the Minister say a little about specialist services to provide access to adult, child and adolescent mental health services in situ in refuges? Are there any special arrangements for those parents and their children?

Baroness Verma Portrait Baroness Verma
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The noble Earl has raised another serious issue and of course we will find a prevalence of mental health issues in these cases. I very much take on board what the noble Earl has said, but I would rather write to him specifically about the work that is being done because this is a broad question that needs to be answered in detail.