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Smacking ban law plan for Wales is dropped | Smacking ban law plan for Wales is dropped |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Proposals to introduce a law to ban smacking children in Wales have been dropped. | |
The assembly's communities, equality and local government committee had considered including the ban as part of a new law to tackle domestic violence. | The assembly's communities, equality and local government committee had considered including the ban as part of a new law to tackle domestic violence. |
However, Public Services Minister Leighton Andrews said it was the "wrong vehicle" to introduce such a law. | |
Committee chair Christine Chapman said she was disappointed the government "cannot yet do the right thing". | |
In October 2011 assembly members voted in favour of banning the defence of "reasonable chastisement" for smacking. | |
But the then minister responsible for children, Gwenda Thomas, ruled out legislation before the 2016 assembly election, citing the need for preparatory work amid fears of "criminalising" parents. | |
Protection 'deserved' | |
The Welsh government has since resisted attempts to add a smacking ban to other bills, calling for a cross-party committee to examine when to introduce such a measure. | |
Ms Chapman has previously said she feels "cheated" over the lack of legislation. | |
Speaking during a committee debate on the issue on Thursday, the Labour AM said she was voting against her government on the issue "with a very heavy heart". | |
"We owe it to the children of Wales to give them the equal protection they deserve and in doing so I believe this will hugely strengthen the Bill," she said before the bid was dropped. | |
Mr Andrews said the domestic violence bill was not the right place to address the issue of smacking, adding he did not think the amendments were "well considered". |
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