News

Stricter laws on the physical punishment of children are to be introduced in Scotland following an announcement by Jim Wallace, justice minister.

The new proposals introduce a total ban on blows to the head, shaking and the use of implements. Physically punishing any child under two years will be outlawed. Child care centres, childminders and non-publicly funded pre-school centres will be prohibited from physically punishing children.

The proposals follow a UK-wide consultation on the issue, but there has been no indication that legislation will follow for England and Wales. The Department of Health has said it will publish its response to the consultation before the end of the year.

Making the announcement Wallace said: "Parents will keep the right to reasonably chastise their children but greater restrictions on what is allowed will be enacted."

The proposals are bound to receive no more than a guarded welcome from many child care organisations who lobbied for a complete ban on the physical punishment of all children during the Scottish executive's consultation process. The proposals will be laid out in full in a white paper to be published in October and incorporated into the Criminal Justice Bill. It is likely to become law by the end of 2002.

Wallace said: "We want to amend the law to protect children from punishment that is harsh, degrading and completely inappropriate in a decent society."