Policy Exchange wrong to call for state interference in how single parents raise children

Commenting on the report published today (Friday) by Policy Exchange, which calls for state intervention to encourage single parents with pre-school children to work, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“At a time when single parents are more likely to be in work than ever before, Policy Exchange is proposing a draconian policy of forcing those with small children to look for work.

“If couples are allowed to decide how they care for pre-school children – with one parent possibly choosing to stay at home – so too should lone parents.

“What parents really need – whether they are single, divorced, married or in a relationship – is decent pay, more flexible work and affordable childcare so they can better combine work with their caring responsibilities. Until this becomes a reality these proposals will simply condemn even more single parents and their children to a life of poverty.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- A summary of facts about single parents, work, childcare and poverty is available from Gingerbread at www.gingerbread.org.uk/content/365/Statistics

- The TUC’s campaign plan can be downloaded from www.tuc.org.uk/campaignplan

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

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