​Charity believes children should "not be spared the rod"

A Christian charity has condemned moves to ban smacking in Scotland.

Ministers have said they will ensure that a bill banning smacking brought forward by Green MSP John Finnie would become law.

The Scottish Government think physical punishment has long-term negative effects.

However Trevor Single, chief executive of the Family Matters Institute said parents should be allowed discretion in terms of the way in which they discipline their children.

"Quite often – depending on the circumstances – a light smack can be an appropriate response to an incidence that has occurred,” he said.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "Mr Finnie's proposals are not a Scottish Government Bill, however we will ensure the proposals become law.

"We believe physical punishment can have negative effects on children which can last long after the physical pain has died away.

"We support positive parenting through, for example, funding for family support services."

Christians have lobbied on both sides of the smacking debate with some referencing biblical scripture to defend their views.

Referring to Proverbs 13:24 which reads 'Whoever spares the rod hates their children', Single added: "We should love our children and we should nurture them.

"But we should also bring them up in a way that makes them into good, honest citizens within the society that there in and I think that can be through different forms of discipline."

The law in England, Wales and Northern Ireland currently allows what's described as reasonable chastisement.

A UK-wide group supported by a number of Christian organisations have welcomed plans to ban the smacking of children in Wales.

The Welsh Government wants to remove the legal defence for parents who use corporal punishment to discipline children.