Rape Crisis Centres

Mrs. May
To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many rape crisis centres there were in each year since 1980.

Barbara Follett
No published data have been identified which would permit a year on year account of the number of rape crisis centres in England and Wales since 1980.

According to the website of Rape Crisis England and Wales, there are currently 38 affiliated members in England and Wales. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations reports that in 1985 there were 84 rape crisis centres in England and Wales, and that this number reduced to 50 in 1990. Independent research by the End Violence Against Women coalition, and reported in Map of Gaps, found that there are 42 groups associated with Rape Crisis England and Wales, 18 less than there were in 1996.

Mrs. May
To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how much the Government spent on support for rape crisis centres in each year since 1980.

Barbara Follett
Total grants from the Victims Fund, administered by the Ministry of Justice, to rape crisis centres, in 2007-08 came to £484,562. In addition, Rape Crisis England and Wales received £75,000 in Home Office funding.

For 2006-07 total grants from the Victims Fund to rape crisis centres, including Rape Crisis England and Wales (also referred to as Rape Crisis Co-ordination Group) were £313,538; for 2005-06 £473,717 and for 2004-05 £199,270.

In both 2007-08 and 2006-07 the Home Office provided £360,000 in funding for Independent Sexual Violence Advisors based in rape crisis centres.

The Rape Crisis Federation, the then umbrella body for rape crisis centres, received central government funding in 2002-03 of £432,000 and in 2001-02 of £406,000. Approximately £500,000 in funding was provided to two rape crisis centres, Southampton and South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre, over the period 2000-02.

There is no record of funding prior to this.

The Government are committed to supporting voluntary and community sector organisations. Over 80 per cent. of voluntary and community organisations that receive funding are supported by local funders and the Victims Fund was not established to substitute for this.