text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Domestic Abuse Bill - New Clause 22 - Immigration - Victims of Domestic Abuse - Right to Rent - Access to Benefits
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  @ MP voted aye to enable victims of domestic abuse to access benefits and rent and rent a home irrespective of their immigration status. 
  @ MP voted no against enabling victims of domestic abuse to access benefits and rent and rent a home irrespective of their immigration status. 
  
  The majority of MPs voted against enabling victims of domestic abuse to access benefits and rent and rent a home irrespective of their immigration status. 
  
  MPs were considering the Domestic Abuse Bill.[1]
  
  The proposed new clause rejected in this vote was titled: ''Recourse to public funds for domestic abuse survivors'' and began:
  
  :(1) The Immigration Acts are amended as follows.
  
  :(2) In [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/33/section/115 section 115 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999] after subsection (10) insertâ
  
  :â(11) This section does not apply to a person who is a victim of domestic abuse in the United Kingdom who provides evidence in one or more of the forms set out in section [Recourse to public funds for domestic abuse survivors] of the Domestic Abuse Act 2020.â
  
  :(3) In paragraph 2(1) of [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/41/schedule/3 Schedule 3 to the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002] after sub-paragraph (b) insertâ
  
  :â(ba) to a person who is a victim of domestic abuse in the United Kingdom who provides evidence in one or more of the forms set out in section [Recourse to public funds for domestic abuse survivors] of the Domestic Abuse Act 2020, orâ.
  
  :(4) In [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/22/section/21 section 21 of the Immigration Act 2014] at the end of subsection (3) insert âor if P is a victim of domestic abuseâ.
  
  :(5) In [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/77/section/3 section 3 of the Immigration Act 1971] after subsection (1) insertâ
  
  :â(1A) The Secretary of State may not make or maintain a condition under subsection (1)(c)(ii) on leave granted to a victim of domestic abuse in the United Kingdom who provides evidence in one or more of the forms set out in section [Recourse to public funds for domestic abuse survivors] of the Domestic Abuse Act 2020; and it is not a breach of the immigration laws or rules for such a victim to have recourse to public funds.â
  
  :(6) For the purposes of this section, evidence that a person is a victim of domestic abuse may consist of one or more of the followingâ
  
  :(a) a relevant conviction, police caution or protection notice;
  
  :(b) a relevant court order (including without notice, ex parte, interim or final orders), including a non-molestation undertaking or order, occupation order, domestic abuse protection order, forced marriage protection order or other protective injunction;
  
  :(c) evidence of relevant criminal proceedings for an offence concerning domestic violence or a police report confirming attendance at an incident resulting from domestic abuse;
  
  :(d) evidence that a victim has been referred to a multi-agency risk assessment conference;
  
  :(e) a finding of fact in the family courts of domestic abuse;
  
  :(f) a medical report from a doctor at a UK hospital confirming injuries or a condition consistent with being a victim of domestic abuse;
  
  :(g) a letter from a General Medical Council registered general practitioner confirming that he or she is satisfied on the basis of an examination that a person had injuries or a condition consistent with those of a victim of domestic abuse;
  
  :(h) an undertaking given to a court by the alleged perpetrator of domestic abuse that he or she will not approach the applicant who is the victim of the abuse;
  
  :(i) a letter from a social services department confirming its involvement in providing services to a person in respect of allegations of domestic abuse;
  
  :(j) a letter of support or a report from a domestic abuse support organisation; or
  
  :(k) other evidence of domestic abuse, including from a counsellor, midwife, school, witness or the victim.
  
  :(7) For the purposes of this sectionâ
  
  :âdomestic abuseâ has the same meaning as in section 1 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2020;
  
  :âvictimâ includes the dependent child of a person who is a victim of domestic abuse.
  
  :(8) Within 12 months of this Act being passed, the Secretary of State must commission a review into the operation of the provisions in this section.
  
  :(9) The Secretary of State must lay before Parliament a report setting out the findings of the review.â
  
  An explanatory statement from the proposer of the rejected new clause stated:
  
  :This new clause seeks to ensure that certain provisions under the Immigration Acts â including exclusion from public funds, certain types of support and assistance and the right to rent â do not apply to survivors of domestic abuse. There will be a review into the operation of this provision.
  
  It appears this proposed new clause was intended to operate with other amendments.
  
  
  * [1] [https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2019-21/domesticabuse.html Parliament's webpage on the Domestic Abuse Bill, Parliament.uk]
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  