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-136

CADRP-136

 

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)

1. Children need discipline.

2. It is the parents' responsibility to decide on what discipline is appropriate.

3. A smack administered in love is not child abuse, it is for the good of the child. The distinction between right discipline and child abuse is being obliterated.

4. If this bill goes through it will weaken parental authority and it will set the state against the parents in a dangerous way. When will the political class realize that they are alienating the little people?

5. The ideology has proved a failure. In this instance, the state is being motivated by a left wing liberal ideology. That ideology has been tested for a long time in the context of the schools and there it can be seen to be a complete and utter failure. In today's Guardian, for example, it is reported that "one in four teachers in the UK say they experience physical violence from their pupils at least once a week" and "Nearly nine in 10 teachers said they had received some sort of verbal or physical abuse from pupils in the last year." The state has made a mess of schools; now it wants to make a mess of family life.

 

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)

Definitely not. The legislation already exists. Current legislation protects children from abuse and protects parents' from the threat of criminal proceedings against them when they try to fulfil their parental duty. This Bill destroys the balance and will harm both parents and children.

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)

There will be the barrier between families and the state.

It will be very difficult practically to enforce and to prosecute.

Other barriers will be the drain on resources of the police and social services, the legal system, etc.

 

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)

No.

The Welsh Government is refusing to see the opposition from parents that exists. They do not want to see it.

 

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)

There will be tremendous stress placed upon conscientious parents. It is a difficult task to bring up children, and this Bill will only make it much more difficult, as parents suffer anxiety about the heavy hand of the state. They will feel paralysis out of fear.

Children will suffer enormously when they realize that their parents are afraid to exercise their authority.

Society will suffer from ill-disciplined children.

 

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)

It is evident that the Bill will cost a huge amount of money to enforce. It is quite clear that the police, social workers, and courts, will have a lot more work to do, and the budget for each will come under greater strain. Since resources are already stretched, either these agencies will struggle or taxes will have to be increased.

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 Bill represents an ideology, which I and many ordinary people do not share. Sadly, the ideologues are not listening to the people.