HC Deb 22 June 1978 vol 952 cc708-10
Q3. Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Prime Minister whether he intends to take any further personal initiatives in the field of family policy, following his recent speech on this subject.

The Prime Minister

I have at present no general comments to add to my recent speeches on the importance of family life, but Ministers, in developing the broad range of their economic and social policies, will pay particular attention to the contribution that improved provisions for the family and protection of the family can make to a healthy community.

Mr. Latham

When the Prime Minister next speaks about family policy, will he remind his audience that when the Conservative Government left office the standard rate of income tax for working wives and working husbands was 30 per cent., and that the first thing the incoming Labour Government did was to raise it to 35 per cent.?

The Prime Minister

All these facts are well known. The hon. Gentleman never fails to seize the opportunity to put them on record. But, to give a balanced picture, I should remind the audience, at the same time, of the considerable improvement in child benefits, which will go up to £3 in November and £4 in April; I should remind it that social security benefits have been substantially improved; I should remind it that there has been a larger increase in the married man's allowance than for the single person; I should remind it of the levelling up of the personal allowances for single parents; I should remind it that we have reintroduced free school milk. I should remind it that we have expanded the health visitor service; I should remind it of the improvement in nursery education. When I had done that, I think that it would have a balanced view of the whole picture.

Mrs. Hayman

When my right hon. Friend gives that long list of reminders, will he consider also reminding his audience of the broken Conservative pledges to increase family allowances in the past? More constructively, when considering initiatives in family policy, will my right hon. Friend look particularly at the needs of the under-fives and consider whether there could not be better co-ordination between the Departments involved in order to improve services for pre-school children?

The Prime Minister

There is a great deal that should unite the parties on this matter, and I should regret it if it became a matter of politicisation. The Campbell Adamson report and study set up under the Leverhulme Trust will be of great value. The debate introduced by the hon. Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Bottomley) in March, supported by my hon. Friend the Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones), is worth reading by all of us, and there is a great deal that we should seek to preserve in the family in trying to put the family forward and amplifying its status in society—and that has nothing to do with politics.

Sir David Renton

As this is mental handicap week, may I, in a non-party spirit, ask the Prime Minister to do his best to encourage all concerned, especially the Secretary of State for Social Services, in the efforts being made to get the older handicapped people out of large institutions and into living a more feasib!. life in the community?

The Prime Minister

I am much obliged to the right hon. and learned Gentleman for that suggestion. I shall convey it to my right hon. Friend and see that the right hon. and learned Gentleman gets a reply to it.

Mr. Sever

In the light of my right hon. Friend's probable reluctance to set up a separate Ministry to deal with these affairs, could he indicate to which Ministry he will wish to allocate further responsibilities for the development of his policy on the family?

The Prime Minister

Again, this is a matter of co-ordination, because, as I have indicated, the question of families, their responsibilities and activities, stretch over a number of Ministries. We cannot look to any single Minister to be responsible. It is a matter for the Cabinet and for Government coordination generally.

Mrs. Bain

In view of the Prime Minister's reference to the increase in child benefits, will he look particularly at the case of those lone parents who are totally dependent on supplementary benefits, and are less likely to benefit from the increases than those who are dependent on unemployment benefit and maternity allowances?

The Prime Minister

I understand the problem, but the Supplementary Benefits Commission must take into account income from all sources, and if child benefits are to be substantially increased, as they are, supplementary benefits must have regard to that. My right hon. Friend is looking into this problem, but I can give no undertaking.