WOMEN'S AID REFUGES

EDM number 561 in 1995-96, proposed by Maria Fyfe on 04/03/1996.

That this House notes that Scottish Women's Aid had its largest ever increase in referrals last year, when requests for help went up to over 35,000 from nearly 26,000 the previous year, a 35 per cent. increase; notes that there are currently 308 refuge spaces in Scotland, which accommodated 3,467 women and 4,891 children lasts year; notes that this provision falls far short of COSLA's recommendation in 1991 of 735 spaces; and calls upon the Secretary of State to discuss with COSLA and Women's Aid representatives how to achieve faster progress in meeting this need, and ensure local government reorganisation will not make matters worse.

This motion has been signed by a total of 36 MPs.