Following the announcement of the Government’s new proposals on funding for supported housing, Katie Ghose, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, said: “The Government’s proposed reforms to supported housing will dismantle our national network of lifesaving refuges and put the lives of women and children trying to escape domestic abuse at risk. This is a matter of life or death.

The Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Bill is expected to have its second reading debate on Friday 3^rd November 2017.

New guidance to ensure victims of domestic abuse can easily access safe, long-term accommodation has been published. The guidance, which is subject to a 10-week consultation, makes it clear that local authorities should treat victims of domestic abuse, currently in safe accommodation such as a refuge, as a priority for social housing.

Women for Refugee Women have published a new report on the detention of women at Yarl's Wood. In 2015, in response to the concerns of organisations campaigning against the current system of detention, including Women for Refugee Women, the government commissioned a review into the welfare of vulnerable people in immigration detention.

This week, MPs debated sexual harassment in schools in the House of Commons. Maria Miller MP, Chair of the Women & Equalities Committee, which ran an extensive and authoritative inquiry into sexual harassment and assaults in schools, opened the debate and commented in advance here.