Question to the Home Office:

What steps her Department is taking to help protect victims of domestic abuse.

Domestic abuse?is a horrific crime that shatters the lives of those affected. The Home Office works closely with the domestic abuse organisations, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and the police, to ensure that support is available to victims who need it and that perpetrators are brought to justice.

Since 2018 the Home Office has provided £1.1m per year to help fund specialist helplines offering support in domestic abuse, honour-based abuse and stalking cases. A national awareness raising campaign has been launched to help direct victims to these sources of support.

A further £3.1m has been provided this year, as a continuation of the Children Affected by Domestic abuse fund for specialist support for children affected by domestic abuse.

Work is also underway to enhance perpetrator programmes and promote innovative approaches to preventing domestic abuse using £10m of funding.

We are continuing with the passage of the landmark Domestic Abuse Bill, which started its Committee Stage on 4 June. This will further protect victims of domestic abuse and bring perpetrators to justice.