Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Thangam Debbonaire Excerpts
Wednesday 22nd March 2017

(7 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Chris Skidmore Portrait Chris Skidmore
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I have worked closely on this issue with domestic abuse charities over the past six months, including Women’s Aid, to explore what can be done to improve the anonymous registration process. I look forward to continuing this work with Women’s Aid and other domestic abuse charities.

Thangam Debbonaire Portrait Thangam Debbonaire (Bristol West) (Lab)
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For 26 years before I was a Member of Parliament, I worked in the field of domestic abuse. Will the Minister make sure that he considers the extent to which domestic abuse perpetrators will make efforts to track down their victims, often for many months and years after the relationship has ended?

Chris Skidmore Portrait Chris Skidmore
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I thank the hon. Lady for her contribution to the field of domestic violence work. She is absolutely right that someone is a survivor of domestic abuse not just for two or five years, but for the rest of their life. When we give people the right to vote, we must ensure that they and their names and addresses are protected. We will carry forward that work as part of the consultation process, and given her expertise, I welcome any contribution that she would like to make.