Importance of marriage downplayed
Tuesday, 27 Feb 2007 13:00
Alan Johnson is putting more emphasis on the role of fathers in parenting
The government is working to support both single parents and those in couples, education secretary Alan Johnson said today.
His comments came ahead of a speech to the relationship counselling organisation Relate, in which he is expected to downplay the importance of marriage in terms of parental care.
Mr Johnson is set to say that marriage represents the "pinnacle of a strong relationship" but that not all children in married couples fare well.
He will insist that the government's family policy must be "bias-free" and focus on what parents do rather than on their marital status.
"We're trying very hard to give practical help to parents, whether they're single parents or whether they're in a relationship," the minister told GMTV ahead of the speech.
"And we're keen to concentrate on the child."
Mr Johnson is also set to place added emphasis on the role of the father in bringing up children and will say that they should not be considered "optional extras in the family unit".
Speaking at his monthly press conference this afternoon, prime minister Tony Blair told reporters that what is important was to ensure each family is dealt with individually, whether the parents are married or otherwise.
He said that the government offers "tremendous support for the family" in terms of tax credits, extending maternity leave, the Surestart scheme and other policies, but added that some families are a "special case".
"I would have to say if we look at the state some of these families are in, do we really think that [such schemes are] going to make the difference? My answer is no," Mr Blair said.