Glasgow MSP Sandra White today welcomed confirmation from the SNP Government that funding for the violence against women fund will be protected.

Ms White questioned Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil on the funding and the current 16 days of activism campaign against violence against women in Holyrood today.

Mr Neil confirmed that the overall budget in respect of violence against women which supports organisations including Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis will be protected at the same level as 2010-11.

Ms White, a long time campaigner on issues of domestic abuse and violence against women said: “The SNP Government has made tackling domestic violence and violence against women a priority over the last three years and has significantly increased the funding for essential services.

“I welcome the news today that despite the cuts coming from Westminster the SNP Government will maintain the budget for tackling violence against women.  This will help organisations like Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis continue their valuable work and bring considerable relief to those who use their services.

“In difficult financial times it is essential we do not let vulnerable people in our society suffer unnecessarily and continue to tackle violence across our society."

Note:

In the Scottish Parliament Alex Neil, Minister for housing and Communities stated:

“We are still to take decisions on the precise allocation, but we will be maintaining the overall budget in respect of violence against women, which of course incorporates a number of programmes.  As I said, there is no cash cut in the budget for equalities, and we intend to maintain our commitment to tackling violence against women and to the programmes, funding for which has been doubled in the past three years or so.”