I am very pleased to speak in support of the general principles of this Bill, concurring with the views of the majority of members of the CYPE committee, who brought forward a thorough and balanced report. The committee have examined the evidence, written and oral, the international, and other lessons as appropriate, and have concluded by a clear majority that it is time for the defence of reasonable punishment to be removed from the statute book, and they're supported by many people in that conclusion.

This is a debate, of course, today on the general principles, and there will be much to discuss in detail as the report goes forward into committee. The detail will no doubt include the need to draw on and, where necessary, build on the huge experience of, and the expertise in, positive parenting programmes that have already been established in Wales; the need for awareness-raising campaigns by all partners on those positive parenting approaches, which we continue to expand in Wales, drawing on the best international practice and evidence; the need to adequately resource the various positive parenting initiatives right across Wales, making them accessible, as required, in all communities and to all families; the need to continue the deep work already under way between the Minister and the police and the Crown Prosecution Service, and in liaising with UK Government departments as necessary to put in place effective guidance for front-line officers and other front-line professionals, building, I have to say, on their already extensive experience and expertise in making expert and informed judgments in domestic situations and on a multi-agency basis, not least with the current work on the ACEs programme as well; the need to further explore the potential for diversionary schemes to help parents who need the additional support, where prosecution is judged neither appropriate nor the most effective way forward for the family or child; and the need to avoid rushing the commencement of this Bill after Royal Assent to allow sufficient time to ensure the provision of information and support to parents, to raise awareness of the changes and to update, as needed, the training and guidance. Now, I'm sure that the Minister is cognisant of all of these issues, as she suggested within her opening remarks.

When I announced, weeks into my tenure as Minister, that the Welsh Government, with Cabinet support, would indeed progress with removing the defence of reasonable punishment, it seemed to catch many people by surprise. Yet, actually, this is wholly unsurprising in many ways. It follows the best available evidence on the lifelong benefits of positive parenting approaches for children as they progress through to adulthood. It follows the work we've been championing in Wales around positive parenting for many, many years. It follows changes in parenting approaches over many years, which is no criticism of our parents or our grandparents, but it's a simple acknowledgment that we've evolved over years our approach to setting those boundaries and discipline, putting aside physical punishment and promoting positive parenting. And it follows the example set in many other countries, with very different legal and social systems, admittedly, who have already changed to follow the evidence.

So, let us make sure that all the support, the guidance and the resource needed for parents and front-line professionals is there. But, on the general principle of removing the defence of reasonable punishment, I appeal to all colleagues here today, 'Support this Bill, which creates no new offence but removes an historic anomaly from the statute book, and let us redouble our efforts on what really matters: positive parenting and the beneficial influence this can have on this and future generations of children in Wales.'