Andy Jeffries from the City of Edinburgh Council, Social Work Scotland, says this bill is heading in the right direction in terms of clarity, as all the witnesses back the need for legislation.

Jillian van Turnhout says the budget in Ireland was zero and she would have liked to have seen a public awareness campaign.

The former Irish senator says public health workers, social workers, schools and the media spread the word about the law.

She says: "I just wanted children to know I stood for them."

She adds that was regardless if she had been the only politician calling for the law.

It was heartening that every politician backed it, adds Ms Van Turnhout.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Gail Ross asks if the bill will lead to more burden on councils.

I don't think it will be prohibitively high, replies Mr Sweeney, who adds it requires to be looked at more.

The COSLA representative also calls for costs to be looked at and says perhaps additional resources will be required.

Dr Reynolds says there will need to be investment in a public health campaign.

Tory MSP Annie Wells says quite a lot of individuals have expressed concerns about this bill.

Ms Wells asks if there will be more prosecutions of parents.

Mr Jeffries says he thinks not.

Jillian van Turnhout says her legislation had no sanctions in it and adds parents should be supported.

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She reiterates there is no evidence of any increase in prosecutions or criminalising parents in Ireland.

Dr Lucy Reynolds says this is very much a public health measure.

Will this interfere in family life, asks Ms Wells.

Dr Reynolds asks if putting a seat-belt on a child is interfering in family life.

Andy Jeffries says no agency wants to interfere in family life.

"This would be about ensuring everyone has protection," he says.

Ms van Turnhout adds that after the change in law in Ireland, a parent was prosecuted for child abuse.

She says a member of the public spotted a child being smacked in a car park, reported it, and it emerged the child was facing a great deal more violence in the home.

That member of the public wouldn't have reported the incident if there wasn't a ban, she adds.

Andy Jeffries says restraint is not the same as hitting a child.

Dr Reynolds points out children learn from mimicry and copy violence.

There are no good arguments for violence against children, she adds.

Dr Reynolds says she remembers a deep sense of injustice after she was smacked as a child.

Headteacher Jean Miller says she remembers the belt in school, and says the fear led to disengagement.

Good relationships are at the heart of education, she says.

"If you teach children what's right and wrong, you move away from violence."

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Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says there has been a lot of evidence about the potential negative outcomes of this bill, including protection.

Mr Cole-Hamilton asks if there has been an increase in injuries from boiling water or children running into traffic.

Jillian van Turnhout replies no and adds there has not been an increase in prosecutions of parents either.

The former Irish senator says you wouldn't hit someone with Alzheimer's who was about to run into traffic.

She points out hitting a child does not happen in a calm environment and says she wouldn't hit her fellow witnesses if she did not agree with them.

Ms van Turnhout goes on to say there has been no rise in juvenile violence in Ireland.

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Dr Lucy Reynolds tells the committee that colleagues from countries like Sweden, New Zealand and Austria - where smacking bans are in place - have never complained about it.

They say it makes sense, she claims.

She adds the other home nations are looking to Scotland for leadership on the issue.

Image source, Getty Images

Last November the proposed Scottish ban on the physical punishment of children was was put out to consultation.

A committee of MSPs asked for the public's views on whether smacking children should become illegal.

The Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill , externalhas been introduced by Green MSP John Finnie.

The Scottish parliament's equalities and human rights committee wants to know what people think about the bill, which is backed by the government.

• Smacking ban bill published at Holyrood
• Smacking to be banned in Scotland

Image source, Scottish Parliament

A large majority, 493 respondents (75%), were supportive of the proposal (474, 72% of those who answered the question, were fully supportive and a further 19, 3%, were partially supportive). Of the 84 organisations which responded to the consultation, 78 were supportive (75 fully supportive and 3 partially supportive)

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Dr Lucy Reynolds, consultant paediatrician, Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health (Scotland) cites the Equally Protected report, external.

Dr Reynolds stresses the importance of a public health campaign alongside legislation.

Image source, Equally Protected?

MSP Mary Fee asks if there was resistance to the legislation in Ireland.

Ms Van Turnhout says yes, and says she didn't know if colleagues would vote with her on the day.

She says every single member of the Irish Parliament chose to support the bill, which stunned her.

Every child in Ireland needed to know that someone thought smacking wasn't right, she tells the committee.

Most people in Ireland support the ban, she says.

Jillian van Turnhout, former Irish Senator and children's rights expert, explains the smacking ban in Ireland came about after the Kilkenny incest inquiry in 1996, the Ryan Commission and a referendum.

Irish people wanted to ensure there was no violence against children, she adds.

Jean Miller, head teacher, EIS arrives a wee bit late and adds her support for the bill.

Ms Miller says that at the heart of education today is building positive relationships.

Legislation to ban the smacking of children in Scotland was published at Holyrood on Thursday 7 September 2018.

The bill, lodged by Green MSP John Finnie, has been backed by the government and looks certain to pass.

Mr Finnie said children should be given "the same legal protection from assault that adults enjoy".

Image source, bbc

Other parties are expected to give members a free vote on the issue, with MSPs from across the political spectrum voicing support for the move.

However, the Scottish Conservatives said present legislation "works well because it is based on common sense, and reflects what the majority of parents want".

Adopting a ban would make Scotland the first part of the UK to outlaw the physical punishment of children, with parents in England, Wales and Northern Ireland currently allowed to use "reasonable chastisement".

Andy Jeffries from the City of Edinburgh Council, Social Work Scotland says people are worried about too much interference

Mr Jeffries counters that fear, saying: "People will not have social workers at their door, as we are too busy to do that."

Ms Maguire asks if the panel backs the bill.

Jillian van Turnhout, former Irish Senator and children's rights expert replies absolutely, that's why she introduced a ban in Ireland.

Matthew Sweeney concurs, as do other witnesses.

Ms Turnout says when she was young she was told she was not to old for the wooden spoon, although she adds, luckily she wasn't hit.

The Equalities and Human Rights Committee, external convener Ruth Maguire introduces:

• Dr Lucy Reynolds, consultant paediatrician, Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health (Scotland), external
• Jillian van Turnhout, former Irish Senator and children's rights expert
• Matthew Sweeney from COSLA, external
• Andy Jeffries from the City of Edinburgh Council, Social Work Scotland, external
• Jean Miller, head teacher, EIS, external