Local Rape Crisis centres are not provided with direct Government funding, but can apply in the same way as other voluntary organisations for financial assistance 163 under various general Government programmes, such as the urban programme.

Finding funding for the 43 Local Rape Crisis centres is something that the Government view as a local responsibility.

In particular, what does she make of the finding that most women in the UK do not have access to a Local Rape Crisis centre?

Indeed, I take pride from the fact that we helped to rescue the Local Rape Crisis centre in Brighton through local authority funding, which is the more traditional route for funding such centres.

As I have just said, a further round of grants will be made to Local Rape Crisis centres.

Local Rape Crisis centres are being given the impression that for core funding they should look solely to local government, while central Government concentrate on the sexual assault referral centres.

In women's lavatories there are frequently stickers on the back of the door-it is not quite the same for loo doors in the gents'-giving the Local Rape Crisis telephone number, or something like that.

Independent domestic violence advisers are, of course, not counsellors; they are primary workers who will provide support from the start, and they are usually from Local Rape Crisis centre or Women's Aid centre.

At my Friday surgery, I had the real privilege of meeting a constituent who volunteers at the Local Rape Crisis centre.