Will ministers back a total ban on smacking?

Under the current law – introduced only two years ago – parents can administer mild smacks as long as they do not cause bruises or grazes.

They face assault charges and up to five years in jail if they strike their children hard enough to leave a mark.

Children's Minister Beverley Hughes yesterday announced a wide-ranging review to see if the existing legislation is succeeding in protecting children.

However, she insisted there were no current plans to change the legislation' which had allowed light smacking because Labour didn't want to see decent parents criminalised'.

Anti-smacking campaigners seized on the announcement last night to renew their calls for an outright ban.

The UK's four child commissioners last month demanded a total ban on any form of smacking, insisting there was was no room for compromise' on the issue.

But polls of parents have shown that two-thirds support smacking as a punishment if necessary.

And critics regard an outright ban as an unwarranted intrusion into family life.

The Tory spokesman on children-Tim Loughton, said: Even though this issue was debated barely three ago, Labour ministers cannot resist meddling in how parents look after their children.

Bringing up children is a big enough challenge already without opening up this can of worms, which is all about the nanny state rather than trusting parents.'

But Rob Williams, chief executive of campaign body 11 MILLION, said: Children and young people in England should have the same right to protection under the law on common assault as that afforded to adults – there is no good reason why children are the only people in the UK who can still be hit.'