Smacking - ban demand

Welsh health minister Jane Hutt is this week set to lead a delegation to Sweden to examine how the country implemented anti-smacking laws.

The delegation will include assembly members, MPs and representatives from the charities Save the Children and Children are Unbeatable.

The Welsh assembly voted recently to ban smacking, but has no formal powers to force the measure through.

Sweden voted to ban smacking over a decade ago and the delegation hopes the UK will follow suit.

"In Wales we have already taken the lead in the UK in protecting our children. One of the most important achievements in the assembly government's first term of office was to appoint a children's commissioner," said Hutt.

"The UK government has now published its intention to appoint a commissioner for England.

"We were the first in the UK to ban physical punishment in all forms of daycare, others are now following suit.

"We are also taking steps to promote positive parenting - that is showing parents that there are alternatives to smacking children.

"As a national assembly we have made our views clear on the smacking of children. We are against it. The visit we are undertaking with MPs shows that colleagues in Westminster share our view."