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IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6th February 2003
GOVERNMENT’S FAMILY LIFE DILEMMA
Dr David H Olson PHD from the University of Minnesota, a World renowned authority on marital therapy, and Professor Richard Whitfield, a specialist in Human Development will be joined by a gathering of key influencers from charities, communities and churches for the National Marriage Week press launch, conference and exhibition which begins today. The event which will be held at The Merchant Taylor’s Hall, Threadneedle Street, London, Thursday February 6th - 11.am, is likely to make uncomfortable listening for New Labour who have for the first time in seven years distanced themselves from National Marriage Week by axing the grant to support the campaign, and continue to provide an inadequate £5,million p/a to cover the entire Marriage and Relationship support budget. Ex Falklands veteran, Harry Benson, whose project in Bristol receives a slice of the cash speaking at the event, will say, “The State spends £15 billion dealing with the fall-out of broken marriages – yet for every £3,000 spent on family breakdown only £1 is spent trying to keep families together” Whitfield, speaking at the event will say, “ Despite strident references to family issues within his 1997 and 1998 speeches to New Labour's Party Conferences, the Prime Minister and the Government’s policies still do not provide even a level playing field for couples who marry, and there is little or no fiscal encouragement for two-parent families, a family structure that research shows conclusively should be actively supported”; that, Professor Whitfield suggests, can be done without unhelpfully stigmatising other forms of family. In a personal letter to National Marriage Week, Iain Duncan Smith said, “For me as a politician, there are three reasons why public policy should support the institution of marriage. First, marriage is still a very popular aspiration. Second, marriage underpins a fair and just society that is serious about caring and nurturing children. And, third, marriage is an essential institution for building strong and safe communities”. Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, and Rev Joel Edwards, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance speaking at the event will be explaining the unique role of marriage in building strong communities. Olson will highlight the outcomes from the 2000 US National Survey and explain what’s happening in the US Government as a result, including an emerging pro marriage consensus. Commenting on early outcomes of the new initiative, Olson, will explain the current trend in the USA to fund unambiguously pro marriage projects in both middle class and deprived areas. Meanwhile as part of National Marriage Week, the first ever Community Marriage Policy will be signed by Registrars and around 25 church leaders in Bath on February 11th. Bath Superintendent Registrar, Judy Stone said, “As we come in to contact with couples wishing to marry we are well placed to offer them strategies to help them avoid unnecessary breakdown”. National Marriage Week, now approaching its seventh year is designed to be an aide memoir to the nation, encouraging couples to talk about their marriages and build positive skills into the relationship. Founder and Director of Marriage Week, which is now an international event, Richard Kane said “Marriage Week is here to remind couples to stay true to each other, and learn to love each other even more”. Also speaking at the conference Val Gilfillan, Superintendent Registrar at Taunton will be explaining exactly how Registry Offices can take a much more proactive role in preparing couples for marriage. Gilfillan said, “We all need to work together to make people appreciate the real benefits of marriage”.
Ends
Notes. Public statements to coincide with National Marriage Week have been made by Archbishop Rowan Williams, Indiarjit Singh, Joel Edwards and Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor available at here Judy Stone. Bath Register Office. 01225 312032 Chris Grimshaw. CFT. 01803 732278 www.timeforframilies.org.uk Richard Kane. National Marriage Week 01202 883887 / 07702 426500 www.nmw.org.uk Harry Benson. www.bcft.co.uk 0117 924 1480 David Olson. C/O John Deagle 07803 903 490 www. www.prepare-enrich.co.uk |