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Marriage support ideas outlined Marriage support ideas outlined
(about 5 hours later)
Pre-nuptial agreements would be legally binding and cohabiting couples refused the same rights as those who wed, under plans from a Tory think-thank.Pre-nuptial agreements would be legally binding and cohabiting couples refused the same rights as those who wed, under plans from a Tory think-thank.
The measures, aimed at strengthening marriage, would also improve access to children for fathers and grandparents.The measures, aimed at strengthening marriage, would also improve access to children for fathers and grandparents.
The changes have been drawn up for former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith's Centre for Social Justice. The interim report is from Iain Duncan Smith's Centre for Social Justice.
He said the ideas were "timely" after recent scandals showing the "chaotic nature" of family life in some areas. The former Tory leader said tackling "dysfunctional, broken family life" was critical if abuse like that suffered by Baby P was to be reduced.
"This review is working from an underlying assumption that marriage should be supported both in government and in the law," he said. The 17-month-old's death in Haringey, north London, after months of abuse has prompted several inquiries. His mother and two men have been convicted of involvement in his death.
"Policy can and should be focused on stemming the tide of relationship breakdown. Marriage acts as a stabiliser and a signal. 'Hugely damaging'
"Married couples are far less likely to break up than couples who live together without getting married." Mr Duncan Smith said the publication of the interim report was "timely" given the case: "If you look at the sort of families where there is this level of abuse is taking place, you will find they are all essentially broken families."
He added a quarter of children live in single-parent families and they were three times more likely to experience abuse. He said the care system had become "overloaded" - the number of children being taken into care had risen by over 20% in 10 years, yet the system itself was in crisis.
Think tank Policy can and should be focused on stemming the tide of relationship breakdown Iain Duncan Smith
Many children taken into care ended up with "worse life chances" - he said a third of the prison population was made up of people who had been in care.
"The whole system needs looking at but you have got to get to the root cause of this - which is this very high level of broken homes and dysfunctionality which takes place which is hugely damaging to our children."
Mr Duncan Smith chairs the Tories' Social Justice Policy Group as well as being the founder of the think tank Centre for Social Justice, which produced the report.Mr Duncan Smith chairs the Tories' Social Justice Policy Group as well as being the founder of the think tank Centre for Social Justice, which produced the report.
It advocates using the law and other official mechanisms to discourage "informal" relationships, and links rising levels of family breakdown to the increase in cohabitation.It advocates using the law and other official mechanisms to discourage "informal" relationships, and links rising levels of family breakdown to the increase in cohabitation.
He said it worked from "an underlying assumption that marriage should be supported both in government and in the law".
"Policy can and should be focused on stemming the tide of relationship breakdown. Marriage acts as a stabiliser and a signal.
"Married couples are far less likely to break up than couples who live together without getting married."
The document backs the establishment of "family relationship centres", modelled on those found in Australia, which can help separating or divorcing couples.The document backs the establishment of "family relationship centres", modelled on those found in Australia, which can help separating or divorcing couples.
It is opposed to greater rights for cohabiting couples, which it argues are "not compatible" with encouraging marriage.It is opposed to greater rights for cohabiting couples, which it argues are "not compatible" with encouraging marriage.
None of the ideas are firm policy suggestions for the Conservatives - and even if Mr Duncan Smith did include them in a policy group report they would not be binding on current leader David Cameron.None of the ideas are firm policy suggestions for the Conservatives - and even if Mr Duncan Smith did include them in a policy group report they would not be binding on current leader David Cameron.