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-50

CADRP-50

 

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)

The Bill is founded on mistaken views of parenting and of the needs of children.

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)

Not at all. There re adequate safeguards in law for the minority of cases of unreasonable physical punishment of children. But the attempt to extend this to the abolition of ALL forms of physical correction is excessive and indeed UNreasonable.

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)

Indeed there are. The most obvious is the potential undermining of the confidence and parenting approach of millions of sensible, benevolent parents and indeed of their potential criminalisation for a form of punishment which has always been regarded as acceptable, necessary and beneficial.

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)

The role of parents and teachers and many other "authority figures" has been systematically undermined over the past few decades. This Bill would go even further and risk criminalising parents who, desiring only the very best for their own children, believe that the occasional use of mild physical correction is a necessary part of parenting. As a retireddeputy head teacher and retired minister of religion, as well as a parent and grandparent, I believe it to be profoundly mistaken and unhelpful.