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.'
The Bill passed its third reading without the smacking amendment beingdiscussed.
Campaigners said 111 Labour backbench MPs had signed a private letterdemanding a free vote on the issue. Mr Barron, chair of the all-partyCommons health committee, had tabled the amendment, which was supportedby Conservative MP John Bercow, Liberal Democrat Annette Brooke, LabourMP Julie Morgan, Elfyn Llwyd from Plaid Cymru and Richard Taylor, anindependent MP.
Tony Samphier, spokesperson for the anti-smacking campaign the ChildrenAre Unbeatable Alliance, said, 'Sadly a serious opportunity to achievethis vital and long-overdue reform has been lost. The large number ofprincipled and courageous MPs who were ready to vote for change shouldbe applauded. Ministers, however, should feel thoroughly ashamed.'
A candlelit vigil was held at St Margaret's church in the grounds ofWestminster Abbey dedicated to ending violence against children on theeve of the scheduled vote.
It was organised by the Churches' Network for Non-violence with thesupport of Children Are Unbeatable and children's charities.
