---

Children and Adoption Bill [HL]

The amendments are quite complex, and I am not yet exactly sure how they would work in practice. However, it is terribly important that we take allegations of domestic violence seriously and ensure the appropriate response, while understanding that it is a difficult and complex area. What is violence to one person is not to another, so we have to tread carefully. Anything that enables workers at the grass roots working with families to have more clarity about how they proceed is bound to be helpful. One thing that CAFCASS has done so far as that is concerned is to publish this week our new policy on domestic violence standards and how workers should proceed. We have provided a tool kit for them with very good questions to take them through safeguarding and risk-assessment procedures. If the amendments are to work to make a difficult and complex situation more understandable to those working in it, I would certainly support them.