§ Lord Northbourneasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any plans to implement a programme supporting healthy and successful marriages. [HL826]
Lord Pattenasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to follow the policy of the President of the United States in launching a national programme to promote marriage and help the raising of successful families. [HL858]
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandHer Majesty's Government already make resources available for a marriage support programme. Voluntary and community sector organisations can apply for funding from a £5 million annual grant programme to provide marriage and adult relationship support services.
As a result of the machinery of government changes in June 2003, responsibility for marriage and relationship support policy and funding transferred to DfES from the Department for Constitutional Affairs, previously the Lord Chancellor's Department. The DfES intends to continue to support these services as an integral and important element of the wider range of family support services for which it is now responsible.