HC Deb 12 December 1978 vol 960 cc108-9W
25. Mr. Thorne

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy in regard to corporal punishment in State schools.

Miss Margaret Jackson:

I am opposed to the use of corporal punishment and hope to see its disappearance from all maintained schools in this country. My Department last year consulted a wide range of interested bodies to determine whether there is any common ground on this question, and I recently chaired a series of informal discussions involving a number of those who responded to the consultative document. We are now considering the position in the light of all the views which have been expressed.