8. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with counterparts in Northern Ireland and Scotland in relation to children’s rights and entitlements? OAQ(5)0136(CC)

I thank the Member for her question. My officials meet regularly with colleagues in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England to discuss children’s rights and the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. These discussions include taking forward the 2016 recommendations made by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in full.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that response. Is he aware of the survey commissioned by the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People that showed that 63 per cent of people in Northern Ireland now support children being legally protected from hitting, smacking, and indeed any type of assault? Is he also aware that Scottish MSP John Finnie is due to lodge a Member Bill in the Scottish Parliament in the next few weeks to abolish the defence of justifiable assault in relation to the physical punishment of children in Scotland? Does the Cabinet Secretary agree that it is very useful for us in Wales, and for the Welsh Government, to look at what is happening in other countries in relation to the physical punishment of children and our own proposed plans?

Indeed, and the Member’s right to raise this. Promoting positive parenting in Wales is critically important, and learning from other nations is part of our approach, but we must recognise that solutions introduced by other countries are based on their own specific legal jurisdictions. Any legislation we take forward will be tailored to Wales, but the Member can rest assured that we will be introducing this legislation.

Cabinet Secretary, I think it’s very important in this area that our expectations and ambitions are constantly increasing, and that’s a good thing. Of course, we’ve contributed a children’s commissioner and the first play strategy, and in fairness to the Government here, taken on the foundation phase. But we do need to look at other jurisdictions as well to make sure that we really are still at the cutting edge.

I agree with the Member. Part of my team and some members of the Government support mechanisms have been on a trip to the States only last week to look at interventions that are looking at adverse childhood experiences. I know that other colleagues have been across the world as well, looking at interventions that are very positive for our young people. We shouldn’t be shy of adopting those policies. I only wish there was something closer to home, in England, that could have positive effects here in Wales.