Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Imkaan’s research paper, Out of Sight Out Of Mind, published in March 2026, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that Integrated Care Boards tackle health inequalities faced by Black and minoritised survivors of VAWG through commissioning by and for services.

As part of the cross-Government Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, the Department has committed to roll-out a domestic abuse and sexual violence referral service, Steps to Safety, across all integrated care boards (ICBs) by 2029. This will ensure that all clinical and non-clinical staff in general practices in every area of England can connect victims and survivors with specialist services.

The Department launched the call for the expressions of interest for the first year of the roll out of Steps to Safety on 15 April. To secure funding, ICBs have been asked for evidence of how the local Steps to Safety service they plan to commission will be inclusive, including how it will serve victims and survivors who experience social exclusion and disadvantage, such as Black and minoritised victims and survivors.

The hon. Member for Lowestoft, Jess Asato, has been appointed as the adviser to the Department on VAWG, to advise on transforming the commissioning of VAWG services across the health system so that any victim or survivor of VAWG can access health support whenever and wherever they need it.