Introduction

New Labour’s 1997 election manifesto included the pledge to“help build strong families and strong communities” (LabourParty, 1997). In October 1998 the Home Office published a discussiondocument, Supporting families, which, as the forewordpointed out, “was the first time any [British] government hadpublished a consultation paper on the family” (Home Office, 1998).This chapter examines New Labour’s family policy, particularly as itaffects families with children. However, examining ‘familypolicy’ is not a straightforward task. This is partly a reflection ofthe difficulties of definition. Family policy can be defined in variousways. At one extreme it can be argued that all government policies, acrossall areas of activity, have an impact on families and that we shouldtherefore consider policy across the range. Thus within the 177 Manifestopledges there are many that affect children and parents, directly andindirectly, especially those concerned with education. The indicators thathave been developed to monitor outcomes likewise include many that seek tomeasure the impact of policy on families. But none of these identifyspecific areas of policy as ‘family policy’, and family policyissues are found across the range of government departments.

Here we do three things. First, we briefly discuss the government’sapproach to families with children, examining the policy goals that havebeen identified and the main policy measures proposed and/or introduced. Wethen go on to examine three specific policy areas in more detail. These are:the pledge to end child poverty in 20 years; the target of 70% set foremployment among lone parents; and the pledge to provide good-quality andaffordable childcare for all children aged under 14. We choose to focus onthese because they are all important areas of policy innovation. No previousgovernment has set these goals, and these policies are redrawing the linebetween state and family responsibilities. Issues of childcare, for example,have always been seen in Britain as part of the private duties of thefamily, and not as an area for state intervention. These measures alsorepresent a shift towards a more explicit focus on the needs andcircumstances of children, again reflecting a greater role for government infamily life. And finally, these measures are particularly important forwomen.