To ask the Minister of Justice, in light of the Stakeholder Assurance Group Minutes of 17 August 2020, to detail any concerns she has proceeding with the domestic and sexual violence advocacy service proposal.

I believe the new advocacy service will help plug gaps in existing service and will provide a consistent level of support to victims of domestic and sexual violence and abuse across Northern Ireland.

I am conscious of the significant benefits such a service will bring, not least in keeping victims safe but also in championing their interests.

It is my intent that its introduction will also go some way to enhancing the experience of those engaging directly with justice partners, empowering them to seek justice. In time, and depending on the availability of funding from strategic partners, any contract will provide scope to extend the breadth of the new service to support a wider pool of victims.

My officials, in conjunction with partners, will closely monitor the new service once introduced to ensure its effective delivery and that objectives set are being achieved.