Comprehensive Spending Review - Review Papers

On 19 July 2005 the Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced that the Government intends to launch a Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) reporting in 2007, to identify what further investments and reforms are needed to equip the UK for the global challenges of the decade ahead. The CSR will be informed by the analysis and conclusions of a series of detailed reviews on specific cross-cutting issues.

Every Child Matters

In 2003, the Government published a green paper called Every Child Matters. This was produced alongside the formal response to the report into the death of Victoria Climbié, the young girl who was horrifically abused and tortured, and eventually killed by her great aunt and the man with whom they lived. Following the consultation the Government published Every Child Matters: the Next Steps, and passed the Children Act 2004, providing the legislative spine for developing more effective and accessible services focused around the needs of children, young people and families.

Green Papers on family and relationships

In the lead up to the general election the Government and the Centre for Social Justice have both published Greeen Papers on the family.

Law Commission on Cohabitation

The project undertaken by the Law Commission on cohabitation focuses on the financial hardship suffered by cohabitants or their children on the termination of a relationship by separation or death.

Miscellaneous

Other areas of policy that are relevant to the relationships and family field.

National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services

The National Service Framework (NSF) is intended to stimulate long-term and sustained improvement in children's health by setting standards for health and social services for children, young people and pregnant women. The NSF is intended to lead to a cultural shift, resulting in services being designed and delivered around the needs of children and families and is aimed at everyone who comes into contact with, or delivers services to children, young people or pregnant women.

Respect

The Respect drive is a cross-Governmental strategy to tackle bad behaviour and nurture good - and so help create the modern culture of respect. The drive builds on what has already been achieved in combating anti-social behaviour and goes broader, further and deeper to tackle the causes of anti-social behaviour and prevent the next generation becoming involved. It recognises the importance of early intervention in families, homes and schools to prevent children and young people who are showing signs of problems from getting any worse.

Social Exclusion Task Force

The Social Exclusion Task Force was set up in June 2006 with the aim of extending the opportunities enjoyed by the majority of people in the UK today to those whose lives have been characterised by deprivation and exclusion.

Strong and Prosperous Communities

Stong and Properous Communities is a local government White Paper the aim of which is is to give local people and local communities more influence and power to improve their lives. It is about creating strong, prosperous communities and delivering better public services through a rebalancing of the relationship between central government, local government and local people.

The Children's Plan

In December 2007 the Department for Children, Schools and Families published it's Children's Plan the aim of which is "to make this country the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up". Some of the key tenets of this plan are particularly relevant for families. For example, strengthening and supporting families particularly during the formative early years of children’s lives and involving parents fully in their children's learning.