Herding lone parents into Jobcentres is wrong Plan for children', says One Parent Families|Gingerbread

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13/12/07 In the same week that Government announced, through the Children's Plan', that it would be putting the needs of children first, it has told lone parents whose children are as young as seven that they must look for work. The proposals are wrong and unworkable, according to One Parent Families|Gingerbread. The organisation, which has been leading a coalition of children's and families organisations in opposing the plans says that it is fundamentally wrong for lone parents to be threatened with the loss of benefits unless they look for work.

Chief Executive of the charity Chris Pond said:

"Most lone parents want to work, and most do. But there are times in their lives when any parent must be allowed to make a judgement as to what is best for their children. That judgement should not be handed over to overworked Jobcentre advisers.

"Ministers have taken the views of family and children's organisations and made some changes to the proposals as a result. But they have dismissed the fundamental argument that the age of seven is a critical stage in a child's life and that it is wrong and counterproductive to try to coerce lone parents with children of any age into Jobcentres.

"Government this week told us in its Children's Plan that it wants to support parents' choices but today's announcements will make life harder for lone parents by assuming that Government always knows best when it comes to work and family life. Nine out of ten lone parents want to work when the time is right for their children, but they need support, not strong arm tactics, and at times some parents will need to be at home for their children."

Notes to Editors:

1) 57 per cent of lone parents are in paid work, and the number increases to 69 per cent amongst those whose youngest child is aged 12 and over.

2) Twenty six per cent of lone parents are caring for a child with a disability

3) The lone parent employment rate has risen by 12 percentage points over the last ten years

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