New Clause 12 — Reasonable punishment

Part of Orders of the Day — Children Bill [Lords] – in the House of Commons at 4:45 pm on 2 November 2004.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Julie Kirkbride Julie Kirkbride Conservative, Bromsgrove 4:45, 2 November 2004

Part of the hon. Gentleman's argument is the idea that children should be equally protected from being hit or smacked, whichever word one chooses to use. However, there is a difference between a child and a parent. A parent has a duty of care to a child and carries that out by putting it to bed, giving it food, looking after it and giving it moral guidance and help with discipline so that it may become a proper civilised adult. Smacking might be appropriate in that context. Why does he want to influence the relationship between a responsible parent and a child who may well need proper guidance?