UK Parliament / Open data

Domestic Abuse Bill

Proceeding contribution from Carolyn Harris (Labour) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 2 October 2019. It occurred during Debate on bills on Domestic Abuse Bill.

I agree that we need to look at the definition and the impact on children. That is something that we can look at closely in Committee, and we would welcome amendments guided in that direction.

It is not just the courts that we need to look at; we also need to look at housing, which is another thing that currently allows perpetrators to control their victims. In cases of joint tenancy, only one tenant needs to end the lease, effectively allowing abusers to leave their victims homeless. The Bill needs to adopt changes to that law that would require both parties to end the tenancy and, in cases where perpetrators are convicted of domestic violence, automatically transfer the tenancy to the name of the victim. For victims who leave their accommodation by choice due to violence, the Bill needs to legislate to ensure that they automatically become a priority need for housing, irrespective of whether they have moved to emergency refuge accommodation.

About this proceeding contribution

Reference

664 c1259 

Session

2017-19

Chamber / Committee

House of Commons chamber
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