Smacking ban fails without vote

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Ministers opposed the cross-party move to outlaw all physical punishment of children by parents.

They were expected to face a backbench rebellion when the Children and Young Persons Bill was considered in the Commons. More than 100 Labour MPs had previously demanded a free vote on the issue. But the expected revolt was scuppered by procedural constraints, which meant that the issue of smacking was not even debated on the floor of the Commons during the report stage of the Bill.

Under a tightly-drawn timetable, MPs had just four hours to debate the legislation, and that time was taken up with discussion on long-term residential placements and fostering issues.

Labour chairman of the Commons Health Committee Kevin Barron, who led the bid to ban the "use of force" in punishing a child, said: "It was always a long shot because the Bill was not about the punishment of children, it was about the protection of children."

But he added: "The issue won't go away. This is something many of us feel concerned about."

Tony Samphier, spokesperson for the Children Are Unbeatable! Alliance, said: "A serious opportunity to achieve this vital and long-overdue reform has been lost. The large number of principled and courageous Labour MPs who were ready to vote for change should be applauded. Ministers, however, should feel thoroughly ashamed and the hurt that every child feels when being legally assaulted will weigh heavily on their consciences."

Current rules make it illegal for a parent to smack a child if it leaves a bruise but permit a lighter smack or "reasonable chastisement".

Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said the Government was clear on the need to safeguard the interests of children but did not support an all-out ban on smacking.

The issue was last voted on by the Commons in 2004 when 47 Labour MPs rebelled, voting unsuccessfully for a ban, which was rejected by a 349 majority.