Head-to-head: Smacking children

MPs have clashed with the government over smacking. The government has resisted an outright ban fearing opposition from parents.

The chairman of one of the select committees calling for the ban and the director of a parents' pressure group give their opposing views on the issue.

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David Hinchcliffe, chairman of the Commons health select committee:

It is quite apparent that in Victoria Climbie's case that abuse began with little smacks, that's according to Carl Manning, her aunt's partner, at the inquiry (into her death).

It's very apparent from other examples of child abuse that the reasonable chastisement defence has played a significant part in the ability of our child protection services to ensure that children's lives are saved.

I've done child protection work and dealt with cases where we've removed children, taken care proceedings and lost those care proceedings as a consequence of this defence.

We've got some serious challenges in this country to address why it is that 80 children a year die in England, while a country such as Sweden which has outlawed smacking, has no deaths at all in the last 10 years at the hands of parents or carers.

The issue is not just about smacking, the issue is about affording children greater respect.

Not that long ago in this country it would have been possible for a husband to beat his wife within law and we've moved away from that. We've accorded women equal rights and it's about time we accorded children equal rights.

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Robert Whelan, director of Family and Youth Concern:

I think it is really grotesque the way in which the Victoria Climbie tragedy is being used to criminalise parents.

All parents understand there is a difference between a little smack given as a means of discipline, in the context of a loving and supportive relationship, and abuse.

There are already laws against physical abuse. The problem is the child protection agencies are failing to implement them.

Smacking is a very controversial issue and people have different views on it, but there's no dispute about the fact that we do expect the authorities to prevent children from being abused and murdered.

These agencies which David Hinchcliffe says are in favour of banning smacking, have come out of the Victoria Climbie inquiry and other similar inquiries absolutely covered in opprobrium. And instead of dealing with these problems themselves they blame parents.

Who is responsible for bringing up children? In the majority of cases parents are loving and do the best for their children. They are the best protection for their children.

It's only in extreme cases that we expect public authorities to intervene. The problem is that at the moment they're not intervening effectively.