4. To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to its wider approach to tackling domestic abuse, including its work to develop Scotland’s first national multi-agency domestic homicide review model. (S6O-02723)

Tackling incidents of domestic abuse has been, and continues to be, a priority for the Scottish Government. That is a fundamental aspect of our equally safe strategy, which is currently being revised in consultation with partners and front-line organisations.

The Scottish Government-led task force for the development of a multi-agency domestic homicide review model has recently concluded a programme of targeted engagement to seek the views of those with lived experience of domestic abuse, those who have been bereaved due to abuse, and those who work in the sector on a range of aspects of the model. A report will be published next month.

My party has welcomed the introduction of a new pilot scheme to support victims of domestic abuse to escape from abusive situations. Given that nearly a quarter of homelessness presentations among women in Scotland were due to abuse, when will the scheme commence in South Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire, and how can the fund really make a difference to gender-based inequality?

On 17 October, the Government announced a £500,000 pilot fund to support women and children who are leaving an abusive relationship. The fund will be delivered by Women’s Aid groups in five local authority areas, and it will enable women to receive up to £1,000.

Ms Mackay has articulated the financial barriers that can prevent someone from leaving an abusive relationship. The pilot fund is expected to run until 31 March next year, and it should provide support for between 450 and 900 women.

Can the Cabinet secretary expand on the aims of the domestic homicide review task force and provide an update on its continuing work?

The aim of the work is to ensure that the murders of women and children have a visibility. Although there has been a reduction in the homicide statistics, which are now at a historical low, that is no cause for celebration. We have seen a reduction in violence resulting in the deaths of men, and young men in particular. However, we know that, in 2022-23, 13 women lost their lives due to homicide, and six of those 13 women were killed by a partner or an ex-partner.

The core purpose of that very important work is that we learn from each tragedy and learn how to do more to improve the safety of women and girls. At the end of the day, that is what those who are left behind want us to do.

Someone said that, in learning the lessons of past tragedies,

“we remember the dead but we also fight for the living”.

As the Cabinet secretary said, in 2022-23, nearly half of all female victims of homicide were killed by a partner or an ex-partner. The Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research says that those cases are often not dealt with appropriately. Has the cabinet secretary looked at the research? Does she agree with what it says?

I am aware of that research. For the sake of those who are left behind and those who have lost their lives, it is important that we routinely and diligently look at each and every tragedy to see what should be learned. I think that we are in agreement that that is the very valuable core purpose of the work that is being undertaken. I will endeavour to keep members informed every step of the way.