REPORT ON MAP OF GAPS: FUNDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN SERVICES

Early day motion 653, tabled 2 February 2009 by Julie Morgan (Labour). Signed by 84 members.

That this House welcomes the `Map of Gaps' report and website by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the End Violence Against Women coalition; notes with alarm that three million women across the UK experience violence each year; further notes that over a quarter of local authority areas across Britain have no specialised violence against women support services such as rape crisis centres, refuges, domestic violence outreach projects and services for black and minority ethnic women; recognises the need for local authorities and other public bodies to undertake needs assessments under their gender equality schemes and to ensure both sufficiency and diversity of provision; encourages local strategic partnerships to prioritise tackling violence against women, including within local area agreements; welcomes the Government's commitment to consult on a Violence Against Women strategy; and calls on the Government urgently to establish a funding strategy and work with local strategic partnerships to ensure that women's access to support does not depend on where they live.

Signatures by party: Labour 47, Liberal Democrat 31, Conservative 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1.