Written question asked by Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone (Conservative) on Wednesday, 17 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 September 2002. It was answered by John Denham (Labour) on Thursday, 19 September 2002 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which voluntary organisations he has consulted on his policy on domestic violence; and when he last met representatives from Refuge to discuss this issue.

Answer: Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which voluntary organisations he has consulted on his policy on domestic violence; and when he last met representatives from Refuge to discuss this issue. [71843] Mr. John Denham: The Home Office has consulted many voluntary sector organisations, and will continue to do so, on the policy of domestic violence. Officials from the Home Office and others from the Inter-Departmental Group on Domestic Violence also attend the Women's National Commission (WNC) Violence against Women Working Group which is made up of different voluntary sector organisations and projects working to combat domestic violence. Organisations participating include Women's Aid Federation of England (WAFE), Refuge, Standing Together, Womankind Worldwide, Greater London Domestic Violence Project (GLDVP), Camden DV/Rape Crisis, IMKAAN, SERICC, Scottish Women's Aid, Welsh Women's Aid, Victim Support, Southall Black Sisters. The Home Secretary has not held any meetings with Refuge to discuss domestic violence policy. My hon. Friend, Barbara Roche, Minister for Women, and also a member of the Home Office-led Ministerial Group on Domestic Violence with responsibility for education and awareness raising, has met their representatives very recently.

Secondary information