Will the Minister confirm whether the £2.9 million funding for local authorities announced on 20 September 2021 for positive parenting support is in addition to the costs detailed in the Explanatory Memorandum for the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act?
The £2.9 million announced on 20 September 2021 is inclusive of the potential costs for positive parenting support detailed in the Explanatory Memorandum. The Explanatory Memorandum published in 2019 during scrutiny of the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act set out the potential cost of providing parenting support as an alternative to prosecution (diversion scheme). The best estimate provided at that time was that costs of up to £143,000 would be expected to be incurred in 2020-21 with on-going costs of up to £473,000 per annum thereafter.
These cost estimates were based on the best information available at that time bearing in mind that no decision had been made on the approach that would be taken to providing parenting support as a condition of an out of court disposal (OOCD).