Consultation on the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill

Tystiolaeth i’r Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg ar gyfer craffu Cyfnod 1 Bil Plant (Diddymu Amddiffyniad Cosb Resymol) (Cymru)

Evidence submitted to the Children, Young People and Education Committee for Stage 1 scrutiny of the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill

CADRP-324

CADRP-324

 

About you

Individual

1      The Bill’s general principles

1.1     Do you support the principles of the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill?

— No

1.2     Please outline your reasons for your answer to question 1.1

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

-An across the board smacking ban will turn loving parents who see the importance of careful discipline into criminals.

-This Bill is an intrusion by the Welsh Government into the rightful role of the parents.

-Loving parents who very occasionally need to smack their child are not child abusers.

-The existing law already protects children from unacceptable violence. A loving, occasional smack is not unacceptable violence.

-A 2017 ComRes poll established that 76% of Welsh adults were against criminalising smacking, so why is the |Welsh Government going back to the charge again? Do officials not respect this result and want their own undemocratic way?

1.3     Do you think there is a need for legislation to deliver what this Bill is trying to achieve?

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

-

2      The Bill’s implementation

2.1     Do you have any comments about any potential barriers to  implementing the Bill? If no, go to question 3.1

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

-Yes, the general public do not agree with it, as made clear by the 2017 poll.

2.2     Do you think the Bill takes account of these potential barriers?

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

-

3      Unintended consequences

3.1     Do you think there are there any unintended consequences arising from the Bill? If no, go to question 4.1

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

-It is quite clear that there are (see 1.1 above) and they are potentially very serious.

4      Financial implications

4.1     Do you have any comments on the financial implications of the Bill (as set out in Part 2 of the Explanatory Memorandum)? If no, go to question 5.1

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

-There are many things that the Welsh Government ought to be focussing on, not least major economic and social matters. With limited financial resources, how can they justify spending unnecessary resources on this issue?

5      Other considerations

5.1     Do you have any other points you wish to raise about this Bill?

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

-