The Government does not record the number of or the location of refuges in England. Decisions on the provision of accommodation for victims of domestic abuse are for local authorities: we expect local authorities to commission services based on the needs of their communities, taking account of locally available data sources.<\/p>
The Government does not directly fund women's refuges. However, this Government has invested £6.5 billion investment to help vulnerable people through housing related support. A proportion of this money will be used by local authorities to commission refuge services. In addition we have made over £500 million available since 2010 to local authorities and the voluntary sector to prevent and tackle homelessness and rough sleeping. This funding will also help the most vulnerable in society, including victims of domestic abuse.<\/p>
The dynamics of domestic abuse mean that accommodation can play an important role in the resolution of interpersonal abuse and conflict. This is why the homelessness legislation in England provides one of the strongest safety nets in the world for families with children and for vulnerable people who become homeless through no fault of their own.<\/p>
There is a range of support for victims of domestic abuse. Some victims will be accommodated in refuges, but Sanctuary Schemes and mainstream local authority accommodation may be an option for others, while some victims will pursue independent solutions with help and advice from support schemes as necessary.<\/p>
We also fund UKRefugesOnline a UK wide database of domestic violence services which supports the national 24 hour free phone domestic violence helpline. This service enables those working with victims of domestic violence to identify appropriate services and potential refuge vacancies around the country so that victims can get the help they need as quickly as possible.<\/p>
This Government has ring-fenced nearly £40 million of funding for specialist local domestic and sexual violence support services until 2015. This funding is used to part-fund 54 multi-agency risk assessment conference co-ordinators and 144 independent domestic violence advisers. We have piloted and rolled out Clare's Law and domestic violence protection orders; extended the definition of domestic abuse to cover controlling behaviour and teenage relationships; run two successful campaigns to challenge perceptions of abuse; and placed Domestic Homicide Reviews on a statutory footing to make sure lessons are learned from individual tragedies.<\/p>
We are keeping this matter under review, and are keen to support best practice and greater joint working.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-31", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL2417"} , {"_value" : "HL2418"} , {"_value" : "HL2419"} , {"_value" : "HL2420"} , {"_value" : "HL2421"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-31T14:59:13.6647764Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Refuges"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what assessment they have made of the research conducted by Women's Aid on the number of women's refuge spaces for victims of domestic violence; and what plans they have to support the remaining women's refuge centres in dealing with increased demand for their services.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3703", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Royall of Blaisdon"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Royall of Blaisdon"} ], "uin" : "HL2416"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100971", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100971/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Child Poverty Strategy, published in June 2014, outlined the Government\u2019s actions to tackle child poverty and improve the living standards of poor children.[1]<\/p>
<\/p>
In relation to nutrition, the Government has introduced Healthy Start Vouchers for young children in low-income families, free school meals for all infant school pupils, and breakfast clubs in deprived areas. In addition, children aged four to six attending state schools continue to be entitled to receive a free piece of fruit or vegetable each school day.<\/p>
<\/p>
Universal infant free school meals will ensure that up to 1.5 million additional pupils are being offered a free nutritious meal every school day, helping them to do better in school, eat healthily and saving families up to £400 a year.<\/p>
<\/p>
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-poverty-strategy-2014-to-2017<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4270", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Nash"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Nash"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-17T14:22:42.1Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Nutrition"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what arrangements they are making to provide adequate nutrition for children of school age during long school holidays.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/635", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope"}
], "uin" : "HL2427"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100972", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100972/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Child Poverty Strategy, published in June 2014, outlined the Government\u2019s actions to tackle child poverty and improve the living standards of poor children.[1]<\/p> <\/p> The Government has made no specific assessment of the effects on child nutrition in low income households during school holidays.<\/p> <\/p> Universal infant free school meals will ensure that up to 1.5 million additional pupils are being offered a free nutritious meal every school day, helping them to do better in school, eat healthily and saving families up to £400 a year.<\/p> <\/p> [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-poverty-strategy-2014-to-2017<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4270", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Nash"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Nash"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-17T14:21:19.947Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Nutrition"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether they have carried out any research to ascertain the physical and mental effects on the ability of children from low income households to learn caused by poor nutrition during long school holidays.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/635", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope"}
], "uin" : "HL2428"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100973", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100973/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Child Poverty Strategy, published in June 2014, outlined the Government\u2019s actions to tackle child poverty and improve the living standards of poor children. [1]<\/p> <\/p> The Government has not made an estimate of the costs to the Exchequer of providing adequate nutrition for children for children of school age during the school holidays.<\/p> <\/p> Universal infant free school meals will ensure that up to 1.5 million additional pupils are being offered a free nutritious meal every school day, helping them to do better in school, eat healthily and saving families up to £400 a year.<\/p> <\/p> [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-poverty-strategy-2014-to-2017<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4270", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Nash"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Nash"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-17T14:21:40.603Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Nutrition"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what is their estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of providing adequate nutrition for children of school age during long school holidays.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/635", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope"}
], "uin" : "HL2429"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100974", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100974/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Child Poverty Strategy, published in June 2014, outlined the Government\u2019s actions to tackle child poverty and improve the living standards of poor children.[1]<\/p> <\/p> We are working with the charity \u2018Magic Breakfast\u2019 to help over 180 schools in some of the most deprived communities to set up breakfast provision to ensure that the children attending those schools start the day with a healthy breakfast as fuel for learning.<\/p> <\/p> Universal infant free school meals will ensure that up to 1.5 million additional pupils are being offered a free nutritious meal every school day, helping them to do better in school, eat healthily and saving families up to £400 a year.<\/p> <\/p> [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-poverty-strategy-2014-to-2017<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4270", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Nash"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Nash"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-17T14:24:33.793Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Nutrition"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether they plan to support piloting child meal provision and enrichment programmes targeted on areas with high percentages of children receiving free school meals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/635", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope"}
], "uin" : "HL2430"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100975", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100975/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Child Poverty Strategy, published in June 2014, outlined the Government\u2019s actions to tackle child poverty and improve the living standards of poor children.[1]<\/p> <\/p> We have not considered including school holiday provision in passported benefits to be included in Universal Credit.<\/p> <\/p>