PROTECTION OF CHILDREN

Early day motion 383, tabled 8 November 2001 by Hilton Dawson (Labour). Signed by 48 members.

That this House is dismayed that the Government with such a positive agenda for children and a bold approach to international affairs is too timid to challenge the Victorian concept of 'reasonable chastisement'; seems prepared to accept that children can have less protection from physical assault than adults, offering inadequate support for positive parenting and the best efforts of child protection workers; and calls upon Ministers to show courage and confidence in arranging for Members of Parliament to have a free vote on whether they want to proceed further into the 21st century burdened with a policy that regards it as acceptable for parents to hurt their children.

Signatures by party: Labour 36, Liberal Democrat 9, Labour/Co-operative 2, Conservative 1.