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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:11 pm on 22 March 2022.

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Photo of Joyce Watson Joyce Watson Labour 4:11, 22 March 2022

I do welcome the abolition of reasonable punishment Wales Act. It is a hugely significant day, and if we did follow the argument that we heard earlier from Janet Finch-Saunders—that the state is intervening in people's lives—well, I'm glad that they are, because if we followed that logic then the state wouldn't intervene in ending domestic abuse, and the state wouldn't have intervened in removing the right of teachers who brutalised children with the cane and the ruler and anything else that was in their hand. So, there are times when it is right for the state to intervene, and it's right that the state is intervening here. Children have a right to be treated equally. That is clear from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and we would have been an outrider if we hadn't changed that legislation.

You said, Minister, that it is not right that big people hit small people. I absolutely agree with you. The public agree with us, and my question to you is: the roll-out of positive parenting across Wales, which in itself is a fantastic wording, 'positive parenting', how and when will that be rolled out? I know it has started. And how will people be able to access that if they need that help?