Oral Answers to Questions

Sheryll Murray Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd November 2020 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Frazer]

If I could correct the hon. Lady, the £2.5 million that we have committed this year for the female offender strategy will be going directly to women’s centres where they bid for it. I am very happy to talk to her about her particular centre, but the £2.5 million is specifically to help sustain the women’s centres to continue to support our female offenders.

[Mrs Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall) (Con)]

What steps is my right hon. and learned Friend taking to ensure that all victims, but in particular those subject to crimes such as sexual-related offences or modern slavery, are being properly supported and that their rights are being properly protected during this time?

[Robert Buckland]

I am very grateful to my hon. Friend, and I know she works closely with support services and victims groups in her constituency. We are committed to ensuring that victims like the ones she mentioned receive the support they need. We have delivered £22 million of emergency funding to support victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence. That has reached more than 540 charities in the frontline so far. Indeed, following the No. 10 hidden harms summit, which I took part in, we are delivering an action plan that puts victims at the centre of the criminal justice system and, indeed, our courts recovery programme. We are strengthening the victims code to establish a clearer set of rights for victims.