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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Smacking ban attempt is dropped | Smacking ban attempt is dropped |
| (1 day later) | |
| An attempt to ban smacking in Wales has been dropped after a wrangle between governments in Cardiff and Westminster. | An attempt to ban smacking in Wales has been dropped after a wrangle between governments in Cardiff and Westminster. |
| The assembly government says it does not accept UK Government legal advice a ban could not be introduced in Wales. | |
| But an assembly government minister said while such a ban could come within powers it was seeking, it was bowing to Wales Office pressure. | But an assembly government minister said while such a ban could come within powers it was seeking, it was bowing to Wales Office pressure. |
| The UK Government had wanted it made clear Wales could not have a ban before other powers were transferred. | The UK Government had wanted it made clear Wales could not have a ban before other powers were transferred. |
| AMs voted for a smacking ban in 2004. | AMs voted for a smacking ban in 2004. |
| The UK Government said last week that new law-making powers for the assembly government to protect vulnerable children would not extend to a complete smacking ban. | The UK Government said last week that new law-making powers for the assembly government to protect vulnerable children would not extend to a complete smacking ban. |
| It said this would impinge on the criminal justice system, which is not devolved to Wales. | It said this would impinge on the criminal justice system, which is not devolved to Wales. |
| In a letter to a committee chair on Tuesday, assembly government Deputy Social Services Minister Gwenda Thomas said the administration believed it could ban all physical punishment of children on social welfare grounds. | In a letter to a committee chair on Tuesday, assembly government Deputy Social Services Minister Gwenda Thomas said the administration believed it could ban all physical punishment of children on social welfare grounds. |
| But she said the assembly government had agreed to redraft its request for new powers. | But she said the assembly government had agreed to redraft its request for new powers. |
| Ms Thomas wrote that otherwise "we will not be able to secure the necessary powers to deliver the important One Wales (Labour-Plaid coalition document) to reform and consolidate the law relating to vulnerable children in Wales, improving preventative measures and tackling child poverty". | Ms Thomas wrote that otherwise "we will not be able to secure the necessary powers to deliver the important One Wales (Labour-Plaid coalition document) to reform and consolidate the law relating to vulnerable children in Wales, improving preventative measures and tackling child poverty". |
| Under the 2004 Children's Act, which came into force in January 2005, mild smacking is allowed. | Under the 2004 Children's Act, which came into force in January 2005, mild smacking is allowed. |
| Any punishment which causes visible bruising, grazes, scratches, minor swellings or cuts can result in legal action. | Any punishment which causes visible bruising, grazes, scratches, minor swellings or cuts can result in legal action. |