Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has launched his Social Justice Strategy Paper this week, spelling out the Government’s support for the institution of marriage.
The strategy paper states that marriage provides the most stable environment for bringing up children and that it should be supported and encouraged by the State.
It reports that children who are raised by two married parents are most likely to get a good education and a job, which benefits society as a whole. It states that the breakdown of marriages however can have ‘devastating’ long-term consequences.
Iain Duncan Smith
“When families are strong and stable, so are children,’ Iain Duncan Smith said.
“We know that children raised by parents reporting high relationship quality and satisfaction tend to have higher levels of wellbeing, while intense conflict between parents has been shown to be detrimental to children’s outcomes.’
“When families break down, the consequences can be severe”.
Iain Duncan Smith also launched the ‘Early Intervention Foundation’ this week in order to raise millions of pounds from private investors to help disadvantaged children.
Policy
The paper will encourage those who have been attempting to get Prime Minister David Cameron to keep his promise of a tax break for married couples.
The Coalition agreement explicitly vows to recognise married couples in the tax system, but Chancellor George Osborne has infuriated Tory MPs by refusing to introduce the measure anytime soon.
MrOsborne also plans to remove child benefit for high income couples. The results of such a change could mean that in some cases it would be more profitable financially for parents to get divorced than to stay married.
Comment
Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, said:
“Marriage is a unique institution which provides the best conditions for the raising of children, and which forms the foundation of a healthy and civilised society.
“A failure to reflect this reality in public policy is contrary to the welfare of children, and will have damaging consequences for society and generations to come.”
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