Family

A Secretary of State for the Family will help drive the Government’s social justice agenda.

By Fiona Bruce, MP for Congleton

With a new Prime Minister, and her priority on social justice and life chances, family must be back at the top of the Government’s agenda.

Theresa May is clear that she is personally invested in social justice and is determined to ensure that, in her own words, “Britain is a country that works for everyone”.

In this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions, Theresa May responded encouragingly to my question on the need to strengthen family relationships to help improve the life chances of children, particularly in our poorest areas. She stated, “The stable family background that young people are brought up in is obviously important”.

Family breakdown touches all areas of society but the hardest impact can fall on the poorest and youngest. It can be a route into poverty and be particularly difficult for families already struggling financially to keep their heads above water.

The consequences of family breakdown for children in many instances involve limited educational achievement and employment chances, behavioural problems, low self-esteem, higher levels of early pregnancy, drinking and other drug use during adolescence.

It can also cause or exacerbate mental health problems. Studies show young people from single parent families have higher than average levels of mental health problems than those with two parents, and are more likely to be at a level of distress which requires clinical help. The children’s mental health charity in my constituency, Visyon, cannot now cope with all the requests for help they receive, and tell me that “virtually all” the children they counsel have mental health issues due to family relationship difficulties.

If we are to make inroads into the sadly epidemic level of family breakdown, it is vital that addressing this is prioritised through a cross-departmental approach by Government. This needs to be led by a Cabinet Minister, a Secretary of State for the Family, with responsibility and accountability for supporting and strengthening family relationships in our country today. This should be a key element of the Prime Minister’s social justice strategy.

Fiona Bruce is Conservative Member of Parliament for Congleton and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Strengthening Couple Relationships.