Child Poverty Bill

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Freud, for his amendment, which suggests that parenting skills be explicitly added to subsection (5)(a) so that they are included when considering the development of the skills of parents. I welcome the amendment’s intention but, as with other amendments that we will debate today, we consider that the issue is already covered by the broad area set out in the Bill. I agree with the noble Lord that it is not encompassed specifically within subsection (5)(a), which is designed to focus on the employment and progression prospects of parents to move on and into work. Parental skills do not fall within that, but we believe that they are encompassed within the other provisions, particularly in subsection (5)(c). I say that in response in part to the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, and the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss. If one wants to interpret subsection (5)(a) more broadly, in a sense it does not matter, as the issue is covered. I agree that there is a strong evidence base that demonstrates that policies aimed at increasing parenting skills could have large intergenerational effects on the well-being of children. It is for this reason that, in the past three years, thanks to government action, there has been a massive expansion of the support that families and parents can receive in their local areas. I have two examples. The Children’s Plan Two Years On recognises that support for parents results in a direct improvement in their children’s lives. There are now more than 3,000 Sure Start children’s centres, which offer integrated services to more than 2.4 million under-fives and their families. Children’s centres offer health services, parenting advice and support, early education and childcare, as well as training and employment opportunities. Since the start of the year, Sure Start children’s centres have been established as a legally recognised part of universal services for children, mothers, fathers and grandparents. Funding for Sure Start children’s centres has been guaranteed in 2011-12 and 2012-13. The families and relationships Green Paper, which was published last Wednesday, highlights the significant investment that has been made in parenting programmes in the past few years. In fact, more than £170 million has been provided to local authorities between 2009 and 2011 to implement Think Family reforms. These include provision for family intervention projects, the Parenting Early Intervention programme and funding for parenting experts and practitioners. We are aware of the need to offer parents support and the opportunities to develop their parenting skills. It is for this reason that an abundance of support is currently being offered. I see no particular benefit in accepting the amendment because what it suggests is already provided for in the Bill. There is therefore no need for this requirement to be made explicit in the Bill, although it should be considered as part of a child poverty strategy. On that basis, I hope that the noble Lord will not press his amendment.