British News Agency

UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced new steps at the Labour Party conference to tackle violence against women and girls and improve health and care services.

Cooper announced the introduction of a public health approach to violence against women and girls and £50 million in funding for new specialist referral services for abuse survivors through general practitioners. She also said a National Clinical Lead for Violence Against Women and Girls would be appointed.

Cooper said Sure Start health services would be restored in every family centre across the UK, national maternity service standards would be reinstated, and an Independent Maternity and Neonatal Commission would be established.

Cooper also announced that a new representative would be appointed for people providing unpaid care, that the first legally binding Fair Pay Agreement for care workers would be implemented, and that thousands of job opportunities in the care sector would be created for young people.

Cooper also said the first national collective pension scheme for care workers would be introduced, announcing the measures at the Labour Party conference.