Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government on how many occasions the National Oversight Group on Domestic Violence met in the period between January and March 2020; and what specific recommendations that group made about preparations for the lockdown put in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are acutely aware of the need to put victims at the heart of our approach to tackling domestic abuse at this time.

The National Oversight Group on Domestic Abuse has not formally met this year but we are working closely with its participants including domestic abuse charities, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Police and across government to understand the needs of victims of domestic abuse at this time, and how these can best be supported.

The Government has posted advice regarding national helplines on gov.uk to guide victims to the most appropriate support for their individual needs (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help). This has been extensively promoted through our awareness raising campaign #YouAreNotAlone.

The Home Office has announced £2m of funding to help bolster helplines at this time; £1.2m of this has already been allocated to provide Covid-19 support. 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 Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government have so far allocated some £24 million to support domestic abuse charities, and further bids are being assessed.