Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Baynes Excerpts

Wednesday 6th May 2020 Commons Chamber

[Kemi Badenoch]

The hon. Lady is right. We are increasingly worried about the number of deaths in deprived areas of the country. As she said, the rate of deaths in the most deprived areas was more than two times higher than in other places, but it is important to note that the underlying factors are extremely complex—these things may be related, but we do not have definitive evidence about the relationship between covid-19 and deaths in deprived areas. We are taking many steps to look after people from disadvantaged backgrounds and from working-class communities. We have protected people’s incomes and jobs, supported businesses and looked at universal credit and statutory sick pay. We are doing every single thing we can to make sure that individuals and communities are protected, on the whole, from any adverse impact of the lockdown.

[Simon Baynes (Clwyd South) (Con)]

What steps the Government have taken to help protect people living with abusive partners during the covid-19 lockdown.

[Chris Elmore (Ogmore) (Lab)]

What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the effect of the covid-19 lockdown on domestic abuse victims.

--- Later in debate ---

[Simon Baynes [V]]

All domestic abuse is heartbreaking, but it is particularly so for children. What are the Government doing for children affected by domestic abuse in my constituency of Clwyd South, the rest of Wales and the rest of the UK?

[Victoria Atkins [V]]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this question. The Domestic Abuse Bill, which had its Second Reading last week, requires the domestic abuse commissioner to consider the impact of domestic abuse on children in her work. In addition, the Bill includes a new statutory duty on tier 1 local authorities in England to provide support to victims of domestic abuse and their children within safe accommodation. Last week, I announced £3.1 million in funding for specialist support for children affected by domestic abuse.