To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their definition of domestic violence includes violence against children; and, if not, whether they plan to change their definition in the light of the link between child protection and domestic violence. [HL1425]

Children are not covered in the current government definition because they are already covered by child protection legislation and procedures. The Government recognise the strong links between child protection concerns and domestic violence and changes to the existing definition will be considered in our national domestic violence delivery plan for 2009-10.