Sexual Assault Referral Centres

(asked on 16th January 2015) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what funding they have provided towards the costs of Sexual Assault Referral Centres, and what funding will be provided in 2015–16.


Answered by
Earl Howe Portrait
Earl Howe
Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
This question was answered on 26th January 2015

Sexual assault services are a public health function commissioned under section 7A (S7A) of the National Health Service Act 2006. They are commissioned as part of NHS England’s health and justice arrangements because of the alignment with the criminal justice system.

Funding of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) in 2013-14, was based on the previous year’s NHS investment from primary care trusts, which was £8.98 million. This was uplifted in 2014-15 to £16.5 million. The funding for 2015-16 is currently being agreed.

Other investors in SARC services include police forces, Police and Crime Commissioners, local authorities and the Home Office.

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