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-128

CADRP-128

 

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?

— Yes

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)

I agree with the bill’s authors that child cruelty is wrong, and that physical punishment of children constitutes child cruelty. To me, banning smacking is self-evidently the right thing to do. If the bill is passed into law, I am confident than after a very short time, people in Wales will look back and find it astonishing that smacking was ever legal. This has been the pattern for all progressive social reforms throughout history, and I see no reason why for a smacking ban things would be any different. The evidence for the harm caused by smacking is overwhelming, and those opposing the ban (as is typical with opposition to any progressive social reform) are not basing their view on evidence, but on tradition and gut feeling. The assembly has a duty to make policy based on evidence.

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)

Of course. Without legislation there will not be a sufficient deterrent for those intent on flouting the new law. That a government is prepared to enforce change through legislation also sends a strong message about what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour.

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)

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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)

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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)

No. Smacking bans are in place elsewhere and so the consequences are well know; I don’t believe that the situation in Wales in qualitatively different from that anywhere else. Again, base the decision on evidence please, not hypothetical situations.

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)

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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)

Please ensure that when the bill is passed, sufficient funds are made available for a promotion campaign about the new law. Please examine how other countries have raised awareness of their smacking bans and identify which methods and styles of promotion have been effective and model the Welsh campaign on these.