Domestic Violence (Legal Aid)

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Justice – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 17 March 2015.

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Photo of Fiona Mactaggart Fiona Mactaggart Labour, Slough 11:30, 17 March 2015

I asked for the figures because the gateway into legal aid for victims of domestic violence requires them to provide evidence that they have been victims of domestic violence in the last two years. We know that abusers use child custody and access arrangements to further abuse their victims. What is the Minister doing about that?

Domestic Violence

violence occurring within the family

domestic violence

violence occurring within the family

Minister

Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.