A group of cross-party MPs, led by Labour's Kevin Barron, were unable toforce through the ban during a debate last Wednesday on amendments tothe Children and Young Persons Bill.
There were just four hours to debate the legislation, which were takenup with discussing the main points of the Bill, including fosteringissues and residential placements.
Children's minister Beverley Hughes said that while the Government didnot encourage or condone smacking, it did not support a ban that wouldmake smacking a crime.
She said, 'If we put a ban on smacking into legislation, it would meanin practice that a mother who gives her child a mild smack on the handwhen they refuse to put back sweets picked up at the supermarketcheckout could end up facing criminal charges.'
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