Widening the definition of domestic abuse, she said, could risk "diluting" its meaning and seriousness.viJustice Committee, Official Report, 6 June 2017, cols. 12-13 Marsha Scott of Scottish Women's Aid agreed, adding that there would, in any case, be "adequate protections in the Bill for people of all ages, if it is used appropriately",viiJustice Committee, Official Report, 13 June 2017, col. 21 and that-
... if you start to broaden the definition, the Bill will be confused with child abuse legislation and there will be a variety of other difficulties that take our eyes off the prize of gender.viiJustice Committee, Official Report, 13 June 2017, col. 21
A number of stakeholders disagreed.ixLaw Society of Scotland, written submission; Justice Committee, Official Report, 30 May, cols. 25-26 (Andrew Tickell, Glasgow Caledonian University; Grazia Robertson, Law Society of Scotland) Ronnie Barnes of Action on Elder Abuse Scotland said that his organisation's response to such evidence was "if this is not the right Bill what is?"