Work and Families Bill

The noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, has made an extremely impressive case for what she proposes. I strongly support her. Earlier, the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, emphasised from his perspective as Minister for the Child Support Agency the vital need to bind fathers into the family. Recently, I was told by a friend that his wife was pregnant, but that his five year-old son did not welcome the news. I am afraid it is inevitable that children feel displaced by new siblings, although that is generally transformed into love, but it is a difficult transformation. Fathers may also be affected in that way. Often they may feel displaced by the new light in the family’s life, but that transition stage passes very quickly. The birth of a child, especially a first child, is a shock. This measure might assist in attenuating the shock and binding the father into the family. I did not speak to the previous amendment. At the beginning of the proceedings I said that I would speak as little as possible, but I have great sympathy with this amendment. I look forward to hearing the Minister’s response.