Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the provision of a victim focused approach in relation to domestic abuse during the covid-19 lockdown.

We are acutely aware of the need to put victims at the heart of our approach to tackling domestic abuse at this time. We are working closely with the domestic abuse sector to monitor and assess impacts and needs.

The Government has posted advice regarding national helpline on gov.uk to guide victims to the most appropriate support for their individual needs. This has been extensively promoted through our awareness raising campaign #YouAreNotAlone.

The Home Office has provided £2m of funding including to help bolster such helplines at this time; £1.2m of this has been allocated. This is in addition to the £750 million funding package announced by the Chancellor, £76 million of which will support survivors of?domestic abuse, sexual violence and modern slavery?as well as ensure that vulnerable children and young people continue to get the help they need. From this funding the HO launched a £2m fund for national and regionally based domestic abuse organisations, bids to which are currently being assessed.