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20/10/2017
'Children Should Not Be The Latest Victims Of Daft Political Games' - Alliance
Children should not be the latest victims of daft political games, Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw has said.
She made the statement after the announcement that the defence of "justifiable assault" will be removed from Scottish law, which will protect children from physical abuse.
Ms Bradshaw also demanded the immediate restoration of the institutions so that a Minister can make the same move in Northern Ireland.
She said: "The Alliance Party passed a formal policy some weeks ago to remove protections in law, over 150 years old, which effectively allow the assault of children. This is entirely in line with advice from the Children's Commission.
"As with many things, it seems plain that there is an Assembly majority for this move to stop the physical punishment of children and offer them the exact same defence against assault in law as adults.
"Yet, as with many things, we cannot get on and deliver this change because we have no Ministers in place. The two big parties know the deal they have to do."
(CD/LM)
She made the statement after the announcement that the defence of "justifiable assault" will be removed from Scottish law, which will protect children from physical abuse.
Ms Bradshaw also demanded the immediate restoration of the institutions so that a Minister can make the same move in Northern Ireland.
She said: "The Alliance Party passed a formal policy some weeks ago to remove protections in law, over 150 years old, which effectively allow the assault of children. This is entirely in line with advice from the Children's Commission.
"As with many things, it seems plain that there is an Assembly majority for this move to stop the physical punishment of children and offer them the exact same defence against assault in law as adults.
"Yet, as with many things, we cannot get on and deliver this change because we have no Ministers in place. The two big parties know the deal they have to do."
(CD/LM)
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