New evidence from Understanding Society, the UK’s largest household survey, finds that only 55% of children aged 15 are still living with both parents.
Statistics showing the impact of parental separation on children have been used by Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, in calls for more policy to support families under strain.
The Daily Mail reports Mr Smith told the GovKnow Conference Social Justice: Transforming Lives
“Stable, loving families matter. They matter for this government, and they matter for the most vulnerable in society. By measuring the proportion of children living with the same parents from birth and whether their parents report a good quality relationship we are driving home the message that social programmes should promote family stability and avert breakdown. You don’t help families by shrugging your shoulders when parental relationships fall apart.”
“When families are strong and stable, so are children – showing higher levels of wellbeing and more positive outcomes. But when things go wrong – either through family breakdown or a damaged parental relationship – the impact on a child’s later life can be devastating.”