5. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Services: The Children (Wales) Act

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:13 pm on 22 March 2022.

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Photo of Julie Morgan Julie Morgan Labour 4:13, 22 March 2022

Thank you very much, Joyce, for your support for this legislation. I absolutely agree with your introduction, where you say it is right for the state to intervene, and the importance of the state protecting its citizens, I think, is absolutely crucial, and who could be more important to protect than the children?

I think you're also right in saying that, if we weren't doing this, we would be an outrider, because it isn't as if this is anything new. I think 63 states have already done this, and over 20 states are thinking of doing it, and this is something we have been discussing here in this Chamber for many years. I think near the very beginning of the Senedd there was a vote taken here by Members on this very issue, and there was agreement then, so there has been a majority in favour of abolishing this defence of reasonable punishment right since this Senedd started, so it's fantastic that we've reached the stage now that we're actually getting rid of it.

So, on the roll-out, the expert group that has been working on the issues, they've checked with each local authority how much support, how much resource they've got to help with the positive parenting, because we want that to be available all over Wales. Any gaps have been identified and, in order to address those gaps, the local authorities are working together to ensure that they have got people and resources there who will be able to work not only with those who have the out-of-court disposal, but also those who want help with parenting in a general sense. That is why we have put this extra money into it. I think this is a crucial part of the proposals we're putting forward today, that parenting support, which of course already exists, for example, in Flying Start, because Flying Start is one of the key areas where we do provide parenting support. I'm very pleased that, with the support of Plaid Cymru, we're working together to expand Flying Start. Parenting support as part of Flying Start will be expanded as part of the co-operation agreement. So, we are planning this roll-out, which, as Joyce Watson says, has already started. Thank you.