Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Deferred
Home Office lacks comprehensive understanding and central coordination of cross-government VAWG spending.
Recommendation
The Home Office spent £149 million from April 2021 to the end of September 2024 tackling VAWG, with other government departments spending around £979 million over the period April 2021 to March 2024.28 However, the NAO found that throughout the 2021 VAWG Strategy, the Home Office did not have a full understanding of the cross–government spend committed to tackling VAWG, or centrally coordinate funding. In contrast with the 2021 illegal drugs strategy, the relevant departments did not prepare a joint spending review bid.29
Government Response Summary
The government agreed with the recommendation, but deferred specific action on coordinating cross-government VAWG spending until after departmental budget allocations are finalised post-Spending Review, committing to update the Committee by Autumn 2025.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Autumn 2025 3.2 The government is committed to delivering its ambition to halve VAWG in a decade, underpinned by a transformational approach to be set out in the upcoming VAWG Strategy. This includes ensuring that maximum stability is provided to the sector so that they can continue to deliver for victims and respond to perpetrators. 3.3 The Home Office is due to undergo the departmental budget allocations process, following the Spending Review, through which the final funding allocation will be agreed. 3.4 The coordination of VAWG spending across government will also be subject to other Government departments completing their own internal allocation processes. 3.5 Once the Home Office has decisions and clarity on plans for cross-government spending on VAWG for the Spending Review period, the Home Office will write to update the Committee.