MPs criticise delay to violence against women strategy

"Labour ministers have committed to halving VAWG within a decade, but the strategy to deliver this has already been pushed back three times this year. In a letter to ministers, Karen Bradley, Sarah Owen and Andy Slaughter - who chair the Home Affairs, Women and Equalities and Justice Committees - said this was creating uncertainty for the sector, with many organisations struggling to sustain services because of a lack of clarity about funding."

"The publication of the strategy was initially expected in the spring but has been delayed three times - most recently, it was due in the autumn. In their letter to the two ministers responsible for VAWG - Jess Phillips and Alex Davies-Jones - the three MPs said they welcomed efforts to ensure the strategy was "both robust and practical". However, they said they had heard concerns from organisations working in the sector that the delays were creating "significant uncertainty"."

Senior MPs raised concerns about repeated delays in publishing the government's strategy for tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG). Labour ministers committed to halving VAWG within a decade, but the strategy has been pushed back three times this year, after an initial spring target and a most recent autumn deadline. MPs Karen Bradley, Sarah Owen and Andy Slaughter warned the delays create significant uncertainty, undermining funding and forcing some smaller organisations to close. The Home Office said the strategy will be published as soon as possible. The MPs also reported unclear departmental coordination and complaints about poor communication and the data used to inform the strategy.

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