Could someone please tell me if smacking children is banned in Scotland

[VoluptuaGoodshag]

To end the great debate between friends, some who said it was, others who said it wasn't

found this on a scotland gov website

'06/09/2001

Legal protection for children to prevent the use of 'unreasonable and excessive' punishment was proposed by the Executive today.

Deputy First Minister and Justice Minister Jim Wallace said:

"While we believe that parents should have the rights to set the grounds for the discipline of their children, we felt there was a strong need for greater clarification of the law as to what defined 'reasonable' punishment."

The proposals include:

a total ban on blows to the head, shaking and the use of implements
a ban on physical punishment of children up to and including the age of two
a ban on the use of corporal punishment in childcare centres, by childminders and in non-publicly funded pre-school centres
Setting out in statute the factors courts must take into account when determining whether punishment was 'reasonable'
Parents will set the ground rules for discipline in the home, which will include babysitters and childminders. The change in law will not affect this.
Parents will keep the right to reasonably chastise their children but greater restrictions on what is allowed will be enacted. Although the law in Scotland already protects children from unreasonable chastisement, the Scottish Executive believes further clarification of the law must be added to ensure their safety.

The proposals will require legislation and could be included in the Criminal Justice Bill. A White Paper setting out the measures to be included in the Bill will be published in October for introduction to Parliament early next year. It would be expected to receive Royal Assent by the end of 2002'

And can I just clarify (AGAIN) the fact that what this actually does is remove the special protection that exists regarding children, as opposed to adults.

Scotland is the only bit of the UK, I think, which has rejected the archaic (and undefined - believe me I've looked!) term of 'reasonable chastisement' for parents who want to hit their children.

protection, sorry, I mean for people who want to hit children as oppposed to adults. Beating up adults has never been madly well regarded and tends to be considered assault.

beating we women used to have the green light though, didn't it? 'Rule of thumb' and all that.

BTW MI did you see the BBC2 prog on radical feminists not that long ago. I was thinking of you while I watched it!

(I did indeed and started an MN thread about it when it was shown on BBC3. Am madly jealous because Hester was interviewed for it...)

as was I!

was talking about all of this with a mate on my camping exped, black and white spines and all that!

The songs were great weren't they? And that crazy sepratist lesbian plumber (?) who took her brother a cup of tea in the car because he couldn't go in the house! So sweet!

Whatever happened to Women for a Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific, I was wondering just today?

as one so often does

Quite took me back.

I was never a separatist though, and even before I had kids (in fact when I positivly didn't want them) I could always see the potential for heart ache for the speratists when they had children.

we should start a thread...

....or would that be too inflamatory on this hot evening?

I suspect I am going to hit yet another glass of wine so probably not - I do remember always referring to my boyfriend as 'this bloke in my house'...

Your little secret

I remember the psychology xmas part invite were to you and your SOLIC. Spouse Or Live In Companion.

I'm amazed at the acknowledgement of spouses (spice)? It was a matter of scandal when I found out that X and Y were married.

Well that's as clear as mud then! Curious isn't it. When you are pregnant they deluge you with information leaflets on breastfeeding, prams, nappies, cutesy images, photograph opportunities, freebies but I don't remember getting anything on the legalities of being a parent. You'd think with such a contentious issue there would be something!! I can feel one of my Mrs Angry letters coming on!!

Was only feminist enough not to change my name. I was conventional enough to get married.

Something that shocks all the girls that I teach. It bloody horrified my mother who was worried that people would think that I wasn't married. The fact that I was, and that she was there to see us getting married wasn't the issue. The only thing that mattered was what other people might think! She and I never did see eye to eye on sexual politics. Or anything else for that matter!