§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been commissioned on the percentage of parents who smack their children. [122446]
§ Margaret HodgeIn January 2000, the Government consulted on what the legal position should be on the physical punishment of children, in Protecting Children, Supporting Parents. There were over 830 responses to the consultation in England, over 500 of these from individuals. The consultation did not specifically ask about smacking behaviour. However, the results showed that about 70 per cent. of individual respondents were in favour of keeping the status quo with regard to the smacking of children by parents.
A 1998 Office for National Statistics (ONS) Omnibus Survey of attitudes towards physical punishment found that 88 per cent. of respondents agreed that it is sometimes necessary to smack a naughty child.