The Prime Minister is expected to turn his attention to family policy in the near future, following on from Frank Field’s review on poverty and life chances. The Relationships Foundation is urging David Cameron to propose a proper strategy for family policy based on clear direction from the centre of government and ‘family-proofing’ of all policy.
The PM has made ambitious pledges to make Britain the most family-friendly country in Europe and has spoken of the importance of our closest relationships for wellbeing. (1) While we recognise that there have been early signs of progress there still lacks a real determination in government when it comes to family policy.
Relationships Foundation Executive Director Michael Trend commented, “While the government is showing signs of recognising the essential contribution of families to the government’s most important objectives, it has not yet found a way of making it a guiding theme of policy. Continuing failure to do so will mean that key goals such as wellbeing, social mobility and welfare reform are missed.”
David Cameron therefore needs to set out a strategy for the family with clear cabinet level leadership.
Becoming family-friendly requires a co-ordinated plan as it has implications for every government department. The government has recognised that this is true of the Big Society – it has Cabinet level responsibility and a clear strategy. This cross-departmental approach is the right one. Family proofing all policy means ensuring that the contribution of the family to such goals as wellbeing is measured, that government considers the full range of mechanisms through which it influences relationships, and that all departments consider how their decisions might strengthen or hinder family relationships.
Whilst the Big Society and ‘transparent government’ rightly have their champions in Cabinet, there is currently no-one in a position to ensure that stronger families play their part in achieving the government’s goals. While there has been much merit in refocusing the Department of Children, Families and Schools on its original role as the Department for Education, relegating Family to junior ministerial responsibility is surely a problem for a Government so committed to families.
Relationships Foundation Executive Director Michael Trend commented, “Only when there is a clear plan and a strong leadership at the heart of government can we begin to make progress towards becoming the most family-friendly country in Europe.”
ENDS
For more information please contact: Andrea Fejer a.fejer@relationshipsfoundation-org.stackstaging.com 01223 341290
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. It is absolutely right that people’s wellbeing often depends on the quality of their relationships, so we should ask as a country, why do we spend billions and billions on the consequences of family breakdown, but so little on trying to help families stay together? PM’s speech on wellbeing, Thursday 25 November 2010 ht