Domestic Abuse and Children

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about domestic abuse and children.

I believe that all our children and young people should get the best possible start in life and I want to reassure you that wide-ranging action is being taken to reduce the number of children who go through adverse childhood experiences.

I am encouraged that the Domestic Abuse Bill was a major priority in the previous Parliament and that it has been reintroduced as a central part of the Queen's Speech. The Bill contains important new measures that will help protect more children from a devastating impact of domestic abuse as well as increasing support for victims and their families. This includes the creation of a statutory definition of domestic abuse in its many forms and increased protection for victims who have sadly experienced domestic abuse.

Further, measures contained in the NHS Long Term Plan will improve the support available for children to minimise the impact of adverse childhood experiences, including through increasing the funding available for mental health services by at least £2.3 billion a year by 2023-24. By 2023-2024 at least an additional 345,000 children and young people aged 0-25 will be able to access support via NHS funded mental health services and school or college-based Mental Health Support Teams. This will enable faster access to community and crisis mental health services for children and young people.

I am reassured by the action being taken to reduce the number of children who go through adverse childhood experiences and will closely follow the progress of the Domestic Abuse Bill.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Mel Stride MP

MP for Central Devon