New Labour Laws and Policies (Families and Households)

Question 1

New Deal for Lone Parents - Welfare to Work Programme

policy

Answer 1

• Aimed at single parents: offered advice at local job centers (had to attend if on child support)
  1. Care in the Community:
  
  • State pays ‘carers’ an allowance –> very small and jiust about covers the costs (most carers are women
    
    2. Housing Policy:
  • Best council houses offered to married couples with kids –> flats given to single parents, often on city estates
    
    3. Parenting:
  • Fathers get 2 weeks paid leave, mothers get 39 weeks
  • CSA prosecutes absent fathers who don’t pay for their kids, unmarried fathers have very few legal ties to their kids

Question 2

Sure Start Policy

Answer 2

• 1999
• Supported poorest 20% of young children
• Built 3,500 children’s centers: childcare, advice to parents, drop-in sessions for parents + children, child + family health services
• From 2004, 12.5 hours of free childcare a week for all 3-4 year olds
• Cost around £1 billion total
  Achievements:
  ~ Healthier children in SS areas (lower BMIs)
  ~ More stimulating environments in SS homes
  ~ Mother’s got great life satisfaction
• 1,000 centers now closed (2009) —> lack of funding
  ~ Between 1999 and 2011, child poverty reduced by 900,000 and 900,000 were prevented from falling into poverty

Question 3

Child Tax Credit, paid to mother

Answer 3

• A family with children and an income below about £32,200 could claim child tax credit
• A certain amount was allocated for each child (scrapped by later governments)

Question 4

Adoption and Children Act

Answer 4

• 2002

Question 5

Children’s Act

Answer 5

• 2004
• Influenced by Victoria Climbie case
• Introduces a set of official guidelines and procedures to be followed by anyone working with children to safeguard them and promote their welfare
• Also allows the government to create electronic records for every child in England, Scotland and Wales which in turn makes it easier to trace children across local authorities and government services

Question 6

Same Sex Civil Partnerships

Answer 6

• 2005

- Different to a marriage

Question 7

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act

Answer 7

• 2009

- Can get IVF