REVIEW OF REASONABLE PUNISHMENT

That this House notes that in January 2007 the Government intends to review section 58 of the Children Act 2004, which maintains the `reasonable punishment' defence in relation to common assault of children; further notes that since the last Parliament voted on this provision, the bodies responsible for monitoring implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the European Social Charter have confirmed unequivocally that conformity with these treaties requires that children have the same legal protection as adults under the law on assault; believes that the primary focus of any review of this provision should be meeting these equality and human rights obligations; and further believes that any review should be completed without delay and that this Parliament should reconsider this provision at the earliest opportunity.