Strengthening Families

This debate pack contains background information, parliamentary material, press articles, and further reading suggestions which Members may find useful when preparing for this debate.

In September 2017, Fiona Bruce MP and Lord Farmer, with the support of over 50 other Conservative MPs and Peers, published a set of proposals called A Manifesto for Families. The policies in this document aimed to create “stronger families” which would, in turn it was argued, result in better social mobility, families which are less reliant on state support, and children with better physical and mental health. 

The manifesto touches upon a variety of different policy areas, including early intervention, benefits and tax credits, drugs policy, the Armed Forces Covenant, childcare and parenting services, children’s mental health services, prisoners’ family ties, and relationship education. Background information on all these policy areas, and how they relate to families, is provided in this briefing.

Following the publication of this manifesto, Lord Farmer led a House of Lords debate on its proposals on 2 November 2017. The House of Lords Library published a briefing in advance of this debate which provided further information on the relevant issues concerned.