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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Wales smacking ban plan goes to public consultation | Wales smacking ban plan goes to public consultation |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Plans to outlaw smacking children in Wales are going out to a three-month consultation. | Plans to outlaw smacking children in Wales are going out to a three-month consultation. |
| Ministers said removing the defence of reasonable punishment would make it clear smacking was "no longer acceptable". | Ministers said removing the defence of reasonable punishment would make it clear smacking was "no longer acceptable". |
| Charities including the NSPCC said this would bring Wales in line with dozens of other countries. | Charities including the NSPCC said this would bring Wales in line with dozens of other countries. |
| But campaigners against the law fear it could criminalise ordinary parents. | But campaigners against the law fear it could criminalise ordinary parents. |
| Minister for Children and Social Care, Huw Irranca-Davies, said: "As a parent of three boys myself, I know being a parent can sometimes be a challenging experience. | Minister for Children and Social Care, Huw Irranca-Davies, said: "As a parent of three boys myself, I know being a parent can sometimes be a challenging experience. |
| "Our knowledge of what children need to grow and thrive has developed considerably over the last 20 years. We now know that physical punishment can have negative long-term impacts on a child's life chances and we also know it is an ineffective punishment." | "Our knowledge of what children need to grow and thrive has developed considerably over the last 20 years. We now know that physical punishment can have negative long-term impacts on a child's life chances and we also know it is an ineffective punishment." |
| Scotland became the first part of the UK to confirm plans to outlaw smacking children last year. | Scotland became the first part of the UK to confirm plans to outlaw smacking children last year. |
| Now ministers in Wales want parents to choose "positive and more effective methods". | Now ministers in Wales want parents to choose "positive and more effective methods". |
| Comments from BBC Wales News Facebook | |
| The proposed law would not involve creating a new offence but would instead remove the defence to the existing offences of assault and battery. | The proposed law would not involve creating a new offence but would instead remove the defence to the existing offences of assault and battery. |
| So, any adult looking after a child would no longer be able to use physical or corporal punishment against them. | So, any adult looking after a child would no longer be able to use physical or corporal punishment against them. |
| Physical punishment has already been outlawed in schools and childcare facilities but Mr Irranca-Davies said it was time "to ensure it is no longer acceptable anywhere". | Physical punishment has already been outlawed in schools and childcare facilities but Mr Irranca-Davies said it was time "to ensure it is no longer acceptable anywhere". |
| The Welsh Government is allowed to legislate in areas of parental discipline, under the new Wales Act. | |
| The NSPCC said it was a "common sense move which is about fairness and equality for children". | |
| The Welsh Conservatives said AMs would have a free vote on the matter. | |
| However, the party's Clwyd West AM Darren Millar called smacking "the ultimate sanction", promising to "continue to support the ability of parents in Wales to choose to use it when disciplining their children in the future". | |
| The consultation runs until 2 April. | The consultation runs until 2 April. |