UK News 03-11-2004 No Ban on Smacking Children who: Education minister Margaret Hodge what: Promises new law banning "hard" smacking will be reviewed after two years where: House of Commons, LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "Parents will face prosecution if they smack their child hard enough to leave a mark, MPs decided last night," says The Times. "But a move by Labour MPs to secure an outright ban on smacking was defeated, despite another big rebellion against Tony Blair. Forty-seven MPs defied a three-line whip to support the total prohibition of smacking." Labour MP David Hinchliffe led rebels in a cross-party attempt secure an outright ban, which was rejected by 424 votes to 75, a majority of 349, "after a brief, but highly-charged debate," says The Telegraph. "Forty-seven Labour MPs defied a three-line whip to vote for a smacking ban." "The government simply does not believe that every instance of smacking is a criminal offence," says children`s minister, Margaret Hodge, quoted in The Guardian. She has promised to consult with parents on the wording of a new law to stop the abuse of children and to review government policy after two years, says The Independent. "The Government`s Children Bill will abolish the defence of `reasonable chastisement` for cases of actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm and cruelty of children." [... more]

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