Partners News No. 5 - October 2000

By Dave Percival

Family in Crisis - Economic and Social Costs

What is the real cost of the family breakdown that is rife in our society today? A report, comissioned by the Lords' and Commons' Family and Child Protection Group, launched at a conference in September suggests that the direct costs are approaching £15Bn per year, that's nearly £11 per week for every taxpayer in the UK!

Politicians from both sides of the House, clergy, police, magistrates, doctors and social workers were among those who spoke about the situation in Britain today.

Issues covered included domestic violence, crime, social work with families,social and economic policy and the role of the church.

Both the report, and many of the speakers, emphasised the importance of addressing marriage breakdown and marriage education in order to stem the tide of pain and heartache experienced through family breakdown, as well as tackling the huge economic burden this represents.

"Society must decide whether it wants to have strong or weak families. If it really wants the former, then it must accept that marriage is of great importance."

A fuller description of the report can be found here together with details of how to order.