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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| MPs attempt to force smacking ban | MPs attempt to force smacking ban |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A cross-party group of MPs is attempting to force through a ban on smacking children in England and Wales. | A cross-party group of MPs is attempting to force through a ban on smacking children in England and Wales. |
| Led by Labour's Kevin Barron, the campaigners oppose the current situation allowing parents to use the practice as a "reasonable punishment". | Led by Labour's Kevin Barron, the campaigners oppose the current situation allowing parents to use the practice as a "reasonable punishment". |
| Some 28 MPs have signed an amendment to the Children and Young Persons Bill being debated later. | Some 28 MPs have signed an amendment to the Children and Young Persons Bill being debated later. |
| The government says it has tightened up protection for children but opposes making smacking a crime. | |
| But more than 100 Labour backbenchers are said to be demanding a free vote on a total smacking ban. | |
| The current law allowing so-called 'reasonable punishment' of children is unjust, unsafe and unclear Kevin BarronChairman, Commons health select committee | The current law allowing so-called 'reasonable punishment' of children is unjust, unsafe and unclear Kevin BarronChairman, Commons health select committee |
| Mr Barron, chairman of the Commons health select committee, said: "We must act now to end the legal approval of hitting children. | Mr Barron, chairman of the Commons health select committee, said: "We must act now to end the legal approval of hitting children. |
| "It is the responsibility of Parliament to ensure that the physical integrity and human dignity of every person is respected. | "It is the responsibility of Parliament to ensure that the physical integrity and human dignity of every person is respected. |
| "The current law allowing so-called 'reasonable punishment' of children is unjust, unsafe and unclear, and must be abolished once and for all." | "The current law allowing so-called 'reasonable punishment' of children is unjust, unsafe and unclear, and must be abolished once and for all." |
| The amendment, signed by 28 MPs, calls for children to have the same protection against assault as adults. | The amendment, signed by 28 MPs, calls for children to have the same protection against assault as adults. |
| Law tightened | Law tightened |
| Campaigners said 111 Labour backbenchers had signed a private letter demanding a free vote on smacking, with some warning they were prepared to defy the whips if ministers did not back down. | Campaigners said 111 Labour backbenchers had signed a private letter demanding a free vote on smacking, with some warning they were prepared to defy the whips if ministers did not back down. |
| But the government and opposition front benches say they want to focus on the main functions of the bill, which do not include dealing with corporal punishment. | But the government and opposition front benches say they want to focus on the main functions of the bill, which do not include dealing with corporal punishment. |
| Children's Minister Beverley Hughes said while it did not condone or encourage smacking, the government did not want to criminalise it. | |
| She said: "If we put a ban on smacking into legislation it would mean in practice that a mother who gives her child a mild smack on the hand when they refuse to put back sweets picked up at the supermarket checkout could end up facing criminal charges." | |
| She added that a survey suggested fewer parents were smacking children and the law had already been tightened to give children greater protection from assault. | |
| The last attempt to impose a full ban on smacking was defeated in 2004, although 49 Labour MPs rebelled. | The last attempt to impose a full ban on smacking was defeated in 2004, although 49 Labour MPs rebelled. |
| A compromise was agreed, tightening the law by outlawing punishment which left physical marks or caused mental harm. | A compromise was agreed, tightening the law by outlawing punishment which left physical marks or caused mental harm. |
| Last December, Northern Ireland's children's commissioner failed in a High Court attempt to force the government to outlaw the physical punishment of young people. | Last December, Northern Ireland's children's commissioner failed in a High Court attempt to force the government to outlaw the physical punishment of young people. |