§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what work has been carried out by the Ministerial Group on the Family on the institution of marriage; and what new measures have been proposed to promote and strengthen marriage. [48543]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Ministerial Group on the Family has identified strengthening marriage as one of the key themes of its work. Proposals are being developed on measures to increase preparedness for marriage and to encourage couples to reflect on the commitment which marriage involves before entering into it.
§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the Ministerial Group on the Family has met during 1998; when it plans to meet again; and how many times he chaired it. [48545]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Ministerial Group has met twice since January 1998, chaired on both occasions by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Its next meeting will be on 13 July.
§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Ministerial Group on the Family has considered changes in the law with respect to pre-nuptial agreements. [48548]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Ministerial Group has considered proposals from the Lord Chancellor's Department on whether there should be a reform of the law on ancillary relief. Such a reform might enable couples to make pre-nuptial agreements dealing with matrimonial property which would be legally binding on the courts and the parties to the agreement. No final decision has been taken on this issue.
§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what work has been carried out by the Ministerial Group on the Family on improvements to the quality of child care within families; and what research has been commissioned on this subject. [48549]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Ministerial Group has looked in detail at measures to increase the support available to parents and improve parenting skills. The Government recognise that parents will always have the primary responsibility for the care and well-being of their children. The National Childcare Strategy will ensure that parents have access to services to enable them to make genuine choices about the sort of child care they want for their children, and to develop their own parenting skills.
The Ministerial Group has commissioned no research on the subject, but has made use of existing research.
§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports have been(a) produced and (b) published by the Ministerial Group on the Family in 1998. [48544]
§ Mr. MichaelNone. The Group's work is still in progress.