The Christian Institute

On Tuesday 12th February UUP Assembly Member Dr Esmond Birnie won a motion highlighting the fact that the law is to be unchanged in England and Wales.

The motion read: "That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to take note of the outcome of the consultation in England and Wales by the Department of Health on the law on the physical correction of children in their homes, ‘Protecting Children, Supporting Parents’ (2000), which decided not to change the legislation."

Dr Birnie succeeded with his motion by 34 to 30 votes.

The Northern Ireland Executive has just consulted on proposals to outlaw the right of parents to smack their own children.

The Office for Law Reform in the Province have argued that the law must change because of European Law.

The UK Government have just accepted that this is not so. They have decided that there is to be no change to the law on parental discipline.

The Christian Institute has published a briefing, Locking up Parents?, arguing against a ban on smacking.

Download it by clicking on a link (right).

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