Cash boost for domestic violence refuges

Women's Minister Patricia Hewitt today pledged to press for extra Government funds to fight the scourge of domestic violence.

At Commons question time, Ms Hewitt warned that attacks on women from their partners or husbands were an "appallingly extensive crime".

She put the cost of murder and manslaughter to the public purse and lost economic output at £40 million a year.

"And if you add the appalling emotional and human impact costs then the figures go up to around £112 million a year."

Ms Hewitt told Labour's Margaret Moran (Luton S): "Of course, I will do as you ask in pressing the case for even greater investment than we are already making in prevention and support for these women."

Ms Moran said that in the US the cost to the health service alone of dealing with domestic violence had been put at 1.6 billion dollars (£1 billion).

She said the NHS probably faced a similar scale of cost, adding: "It's essential we look to shift resources from picking up the pieces to prevention."

The Government is to publish a full report in the summer on the cost of domestic violence.

Tory spokeswoman Caroline Spelman said the home affairs select committee had recommended in 1975 one refuge place per 10,000 people for the protection of battered women.

"Today, we only have a third of that. Will the forthcoming green paper contain revised proposals for how to meet this shortfall in refuge provision?" she asked.

Ms Hewitt told her: "I agree that over several decades not enough attention or investment has been made in refuges for women suffering domestic violence.

"I welcome the fact that we will be spending an additional £7 million in developing new refuges in partnership with local authorities around the country."

A new national 24-hour a day helpline had also been launched last month, she said.

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