§ Baroness Davidasked Her Majesty's Government:
In view of the Department of Health press notice of 7 November entitled Government to clarify the Law on Parental Discipline, whether they intend to defend the case of A v. the United Kingdom at the European Court of Human Rights.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonNo. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health made it clear in his press statement of 7 November that the Government intend to consult widely on the law relating to parental discipline. We will then decide how the law should be clarified.