Written question asked by Cheryl Gillan (Conservative) on Tuesday, 8 June 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 5 July 2004. It was answered by Paul Goggins (Labour) on Monday, 5 July 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children have been killed by a parent within the context of domestic violence in each of the last five years for which statistics are available; and what the gender of the (a) child and (b) parent was in each case. - Inc table and ref to Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 01/04.

Answer: Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been killed by a parent within the context of domestic violence in each of the last five years for which statistics are available; and what the gender of the (a) child and (b) parent was in each case. [178353] Paul Goggins: The latest available information on homicide is published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 01/04, "Crime in England and Wales 2002/2003: Supplementary Volume 1: Homicide and Gun Crime". It provides information on the gender of victims and the relationship of victim to suspect. The Bulletin does not specify either the gender of suspects causing the death of their own children or whether the homicide was within the context of domestic violence. In England and Wales, the numbers of homicide victims under 16 years killed by their parents are given in the table. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Son Daughter 1998-99 32 25 1999-2000 29 19 2000-01 46 34 2001-02 30 11 2002-03 29 26 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Note: Figures are as at 13 November 2003 and are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police, by the courts or as further information becomes available.

Secondary information