THE Welsh Assembly is considering a ban on smacking children.

They will vote this evening on whether to set up a cross-party committee to investigate such a ban.

Currently there is a defence of “reasonable punishment” for parents using physical force to discipline children.

But Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales East Lindsay Whittle said a new committee was not needed and AMs could take action just by amending the Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Bill.

Mr Whittle claimed the committee was a "delaying tactic" by ministers.

He said: “There’s absolutely no need in my opinion to set up a committee to discuss the withdrawal of the reasonable punishment defence.

Now we have the powers to legislate why do we need to discuss issues to do with legislation? Is it a delaying tactic to drag the matter on until after the next assembly elections?