UK News 07-09-2001 Parents To Face Prison For Smacking Children who: Tory justice spokesman Lord James Douglas-Hamilton what: Accuses Scottish Executive of being "nanny state" over regulation of child discipline where: EDINBURGH when: Yesterday snippet: "Parents who smack their young children face a jail sentence," writes Tanya Thompson in The Scotsman, "under controversial plans unveiled by the Scottish executive yesterday aimed at bolstering the rights of the child." The new rules will form part of the Criminal Justice Bill, due to be published next month, reveals The Daily Record. "There will be a total ban on smacking youngsters under three years old." Additionally, parents and childminders will be banned from "hitting children on the head, shaking them or from striking them with implements." The NSPCC has welcomed the news, says The Independent. "An adult hitting a child of any age is not right," said policy director Phillip Noyes. "There are much better ways to discipline children." But Scottish Tory justice spokesman, Lord James Douglas-Hamilton is not so sure. "No one doubts that these proposals are well-intentioned," he says. "Unfortunately, they are also misconceived and unnecessary. They smack of the nanny state." The decision will not affect the law in England and Wales. Indeed, new rules published earlier this year "permit registered childminders in England to smack children in their care," reports The Times, while The Telegraph notes "Tony Blair has admitted that he has smacked his children occasionally." [... more]

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