Tory minister refuses to say if new domestic abuse bill will include key measures

Original bill dropped after Boris Johnson suspended parliament

The original bill included a number of provisions which domestic violence charities have spent years campaigning for (Rex)

A Conservative minister has refused to say if the new Domestic Abuse Bill will include key measures which were outlined in the initial legislation, including a ban on cross-examination of victims by alleged perpetrators in court.

The landmark bill had a number of provisions which domestic violence charities have spent years campaigning for. But it was dropped after Boris Johnson suspended parliament.

Victoria Atkins, Home Office minister for safeguarding, would not confirm whether the new bill will ban the cross-examination of victims by alleged perpetrators, even though it was a key measure in the original legislation.

It was unclear whether any other provisions would remain in place when the legislation is brought back to parliament to be looked at by MPs.

“All bills in those early stages fall at prorogation, but I am delighted that the Prime Minister and Home Secretary have, pretty unusually, confirmed that the bill will be in the Queen’s Speech," Ms Atkins told Radio 4’s Today programme.

“At this point in time, I am at the limit of time in terms of what I can say about what is in the Queen’s Speech.”

Ms Atkins added that she would be able to provide more detail “in a few weeks time”.

The prime minister has previously pledged to reintroduce the Domestic Abuse Bill in the new parliamentary session after the Queen’s speech.

Ms Atkins' comments came as the government announced the appointment of Nicole Jacobs as its first domestic abuse commissioner.

The appointment of the chief executive of the Standing Together Against Domestic Violence charity, "shows the determination of this government to tackle domestic abuse”, Ms Atkins added.

Pressed on what Ms Jacobs will be able to achieve in the part-time role, Ms Atkins said she was experienced in the area, having worked for domestic abuse charities for two decades.

She added: “The fact that a commissioner has been appointed, I hope, will give charities some comfort.”

Her job will be to “stand up for victims and survivors, raise public awareness and hold both agencies and government to account in tackling domestic abuse”, Ms Atkins said.

Ms Jacobs added that she intended to "raise the voices of victims and survivors of all ages, status and background and ensure that we shine a light on practice that fails them.”

She told the BBC she was “relieved” the Prime Minister has pledged to re-introduce a new law on the issue.

The independent Office of Domestic Abuse Commissioner will be made a statutory body and publish reports on its findings.

The original Domestic Abuse Bill included provisions to place a legal duty on councils to offer secure homes for those escaping violence and their children – as well as introducing the first-ever statutory definition of domestic abuse to include economic abuse and controlling and manipulative behaviour that is not physical.

It also included measures which would mean perpetrators would no longer be able to directly cross-examine victims in family courts.

Additional reporting by Press Association