Bishop of St Albans asks about female genital mutilation, forced marriage, and domestic abuse

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 12th April 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the link between domestic abuse and victim suicide.

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Bishop of Gloucester asks about child maintenance and domestic violence

The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answers on 27th January 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government when they intend to publish the review of calculations of child maintenance.

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Bishop of Newcastle emphasises need to focus on prevention of domestic violence

On 12th December 2024, the Bishop of Newcastle spoke in a debate on tackling domestic abuse, stressing the need to focus on prevention of violence through education:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, homes and relationships should be places where people feel safe and loved but, with Northumbria Police receiving about 115 calls about domestic abuse per day, this is sadly not the case for many. The north-east has particularly high rates of domestic violence, at 19 per 1,000 population according to Health Equity North, while the average for the whole of England is 13.

Steps are being taken to reduce this number, with Northumbria Police having placed domestic abuse specialists in their emergency call rooms since 2022. The project has received positive feedback, and I welcome the Government’s plans to introduce this more widely through Raneem’s law.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about expanding definition of domestic abuse to include under 16s

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 25th November 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to changing the statutory definition of domestic abuse to that those under the age of 16 can be considered victims of domestic abuse.

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Votes: Victims and Prisoners Bill

On 21st May 2024, the House of Lords debated the Victims and Prisoners Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a bishop took part:

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Victims and Prisoners Bill: Bishop of Gloucester supports amendment aimed at protecting migrant victims of domestic abuse

During a debate on the Victims and Prisoners Bill on 23rd April 2024, the Bishop of Gloucester spoke in support of amendment 79 to the bill, which would aim to introduce protection for migrant victims of domestic violence:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: My Lords, from listening to this debate, I am struck again and again by how so much of what we are saying was said in this House during the passage of the Domestic Abuse Bill. We need to listen to and be aware of that. I hope the Minister will reflect on that.

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Bishop of Leicester asks about family courts

The Bishop of Leicester received the following written answers on 17th October 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester asked when they expect to publish a response to the report by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner The Family Court and domestic abuse: achieving cultural change, published on 17 July.

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Bishop of Gloucester asks about migrant victims of domestic abuse

The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answers on 4th September 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government when they plan to publish the evaluation of the Support for Migrant Victims pilot scheme.

Lord Murray of Blidworth (Con, Home Office): In 2021 the Government awarded the charity Southall Black Sisters £1.4 million to run the Support for Migrant Victims (SMV) Scheme pilot. This was following the Government’s review (in 2020) of its response to migrant victims who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF). This funding has now been extended until March 2025.

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Bishop of Gloucester asks about report on domestic abuse

The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answer on 17th April 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government:

  • when they plan to publish their response to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s report Safety before status: the solutions, which was due in February.
  • what assessment has been made of the recommendations in the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s second report into migrant survivors, Safety before status: the solutions, published on 13 December 2022.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con): Tackling violence against women and girls is a government priority. We are committed to supporting victims of abuse, regardless of their immigration status.

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Bishop of Gloucester asks about combatting domestic violence

The Bishop of Gloucester asked a question on the government’s approach to addressing abuse and domestic violence on 23rd February 2023, during a debate on violence against women and girls:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: My Lords, according to the Office for National Statistics, only 18% of domestic abuse victims report to the police. Can the Minister say whether the Government are taking a whole-system approach to tackling and preventing abuse—through the health system, education and better housing and welfare provision? A whole-system approach is needed.

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