Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Paragraph: 21
We recommend the Government ensures the Support for Migrant Victims Scheme is evaluated swiftly and...
Recommendation
We recommend the Government ensures the Support for Migrant Victims Scheme is evaluated swiftly and consequential policy decisions are made quickly. The pilot must be fully rolled out or alternative measures put in place immediately to ensure that survivors of domestic abuse, including children, receive support when and where it is needed. We ask the Government to update us on whether or not the scheme will be permanently in place when the evaluation has been completed. The Government should also explain what support for survivors of domestic abuse with NRPF will be available between the end of the pilot in March and the introduction of any subsequent scheme.
Paragraph Reference:
21
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government is committed to supporting all victims of domestic abuse. Anyone who has suffered domestic abuse must be treated as a victim first and foremost, regardless of immigration status. Support is already provided to migrant victims of domestic abuse who have entered the UK on certain partner or spousal visas through the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession, which enables eligible individuals to access public funds for three months, which can be used to fund safe accommodation and other support. These migrant victims can also apply for settlement under the Domestic Violence Indefinite Leave to Remain Rules. The intention is to safeguard victims of domestic abuse by offering them an immigration status and financial support that is independent of their abusive partner. The Support for Migrant Victims pilot provided wraparound support services for migrant victims of domestic abuse with no recourse to public funds, including accommodation, subsistence, and counselling. The pilot and independent evaluation by Behavioural Insights Ltd, aims to help to build the evidence-base needed to better understand the diverse needs of the migrant population, which in turn should inform any future changes in policy. The evaluators will be producing their final report in Summer 2022. The timeline for when any policy recommendations will be implemented is dependent on the details of those recommendations, but these decisions will be taken as soon as practicable. In the interim, we will provide £1.4 million in 2022–23 to continue to fund support for migrant victims of domestic abuse, while we take on board vital lessons learned from the pilot to inform our future policy decisions.