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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2014-04-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of moves to gender-neutral services on support for women victims of domestic violence; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker

Decisions on how best to fund services for victims of domestic violence are
most effectively addressed at a local level based on the needs of local
communities. This includes an assessment of the need for gender-specific
services.

The Home Office has received representations from voluntary sector
organisations raising concerns about local commissioning of generic and
gender-neutral services for victims of domestic violence. The updated Violence
Against Women and Girls Action Plan, published on 8 March 2014, accordingly
makes supporting effective local approaches a priority area. The Plan sets out
clear commitments to:
• deliver a programme of regional engagement to support all local commissioners;
• establish a cross-Government task and finish group to drive good practice in
the commissioning of local services; and,
• part-fund a series of dedicated commissioning masterclasses to support the
women’s sector to engage with the new commissioning landscape.

Progress on supporting effective local approaches to commissioning of services
will be monitored by the Inter-Ministerial Group on Violence Against Women and
Girls, chaired by the Home Secretary.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2014-04-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had on provision for young women aged 16 to 18 years who have been victims of domestic violence; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker

The Coalition Government recognises that young people can be victims of
domestic violence and abuse both within the home and in their relationships. That is why in March
2013, we extended the definition of domestic violence and abuse to include 16
and 17 year olds, and coercive control. Our aim in extending the definition is
to increase awareness that young people experience domestic violence and abuse,
encouraging more of them to come forward and access the support they need. In
March 2013, the Home Office also published a guide to assist local areas to
consider how the extension to the definition of domestic violence and abuse may
impact on their services and identify potential gaps and opportunities for
working with 16-17 year olds and how to respond to cases involving young
people.

The Coalition Government believes it is important to invite young people to
express their views and preferences about policies that are developed for them which is why
we have worked with the NSPCC to establish a Young People’s Panel. The Panel
has met four times since its inception in 2012 and their discussions have fed
into policy development around young people and domestic violence. This
includes commenting on the guidance for local areas following the change in
definition, and reviewing aspects of our media campaigns.

The Home Office has also launched its Teenage Relationship Abuse and
Teenage Rape Prevention campaigns. The aims of the campaigns are to prevent
teenagers from becoming victims and perpetrators of abusive relationships. It
will encourage teenagers to re-think their views of violence, abuse or
controlling behaviour in relationships and direct them to places for help and
advice. The campaign is aimed at 13 to 18 year old boys in particular.