The Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has spoken of her shock at the cost incurred by the Welsh Government on the development and introduction of the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020.
According to a Freedom of Information reply obtained by her office, the Welsh Government spent £1,650,098 on the development and introduction of the Act between May 2016 and the 4th January 2022.
In the compilation of this outlay, spend was taken to mean invoices paid for goods or services and grant claims paid. The figure provided does not include financial commitments or opportunity costs.
Commenting on the cost incurred, Janet said:
“I am astounded that over one and half million pounds of taxpayers’ money has been ploughed into this nanny-state intervention that unreasonably criminalises good parents and intrudes excessively on family life.
“While we all continue to strive to create the safest possible environment for our children here in Wales, instead of introducing unnecessary additions to the statute book, this money could have gone towards supporting our already overstretched social services and education avenues.
“Having led the opposition to this Act during the last Senedd, you can be sure that I will continue to scrutinise its impact on society.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- A copy of the FOI reply can be found attached.
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
