Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to fund women’s refuges.

Since 2014 the Department has invested £55.5 million in services to support victims of domestic abuse, including refuges.

MHCLG recently consulted on a new statutory duty which would require local authorities to assess the need for and commission support for victims and their children in safe accommodation.

The consultation closed on 2 August. We have analysed the responses to the consultation on support within safe accommodation and will be publishing a full government response in due course.