policy: nick clegg launches childhood and families ministerial taskforce
17 June 2010
Nick Clegg has today announced the Government’s intention to set up a new Childhood and Families Ministerial Taskforce which will aim to identify specific policy proposals to improve the lives of children and families in a cost-effective way. At an event organised by Barnado’s Clegg emphasised his belief that individuals must be given more power to make choices over their lives and highlighted the importance of building informal networks to provide support for families and develop a strong sense of community identity. Although the coalition agreement made no mention of the Conservative Party’s proposal to offer tax breaks to married couples, it has been suggested that this is an area the Taskforce will consider. It is also believed that the role of grandparents, work-life balance and schools will be on the agenda.
The Taskforce will be chaired by David Cameron, who will be joined by Nick Clegg, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, Children and Families Minister Sarah Teather, Science and Universities Minister David Willets, Public Health Minister Anne Milton and Economic Secretary to the Treasury Justine Greening. They intend to develop their proposals in the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review and report their conclusion towards the end of the year.
|