This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Minister responds to smacking survey
15/02/2002
A survey published today by the Scottish Parent Teacher Council has shown overwhelming support for the Executive's proposal to ban the use of implements for striking children.
The survey also showed a narrow majority against the ban of smacking of children under the age of three.
Justice Minister Jim Wallace has confirmed that the Executive is committed to the principle of protecting children under a certain age from physical punishment but has repeated once again that there is still room for debate on what that age should be.
Responding to the survey, Jim Wallace said:
"I am very interested in the findings. It is encouraging that there is such overwhelming support for our proposal to ban to the use of implements against children. There is a narrow majority against our proposal to stop smacking children under the age of three and we will certainly take that into account.
"I have said before that there is a principle here. The principle is that there is an age under which it is wrong for a child to be struck. I am sure that this is a principle which the majority of parents support. We have said that we think that age should be three but have repeatedly said that we want to hear the views of others. There is a line that has to be drawn. There is room for debate on where that line is drawn.
"I have brought up two children and I know how difficult it is. We don't want to criminalise parents. The law at present is very unclear in this area as prosecutions in the courts have shown. We need to bring some clarity to the law and we need to protect children from excessive punishment.
"The Bill will be published next month and it will be closely scrutinised by the Parliament and the Justice Committee. Let's have a mature debate on this."