Children and Families issues main focus for Annette Brooke at conference in Blackpool

6.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 23rd Sep 2005

Speaking at Social Market Foundation 'fringe' meeting on Parent Power

Annette Brooke MP has had a busy and successful conference this year in Blackpool. As the Shadow Minister for Children, it was particularly appropriate timing that the Liberal Democrat consultation paper on Children and Families was launched on Sunday, the first day of conference. Speaking at various 'fringe' meetings about children and families, Annette raised many of the questions open to consultation.

Speaking about the consultation paper, Annette had the opportunity to put forward some of the main concerns of Liberal Democrats - supporting the family unit and enabling the family to provide a stable and secure home for all children. A theme apparent on the conference fringe this year has been the relationship between the family and the state.

Annette Brooke was invited to speak at the meetings of both the National Family and Parenting Institute, entitled "What does family friendly mean now?" and the Social Market Foundation meeting, "Parent Power: what should policy makers be doing to harness it". Both discussions highlighted the need for more support to families to help them bring up their children, particularly for vulnerable families. Preventative measures, including parenting classes and more Sure Start schemes were seen as crucial to help parents with the difficult task of parenting.

Annette said: "Parenting is the hardest job in life, and the most responsible, but is one for which you have the least training and relatively little on-going support if you need it."

"Rather than the state intervening as an emergency service when things break down or are failing, we need to ensure that more preventative measures and support is available for families before any crisis occurs. Look how Super Nanny has changed the situation for whole families at breaking point! Support should be available sooner."

"We need to invest more in early years' education and services, including more Sure Start centres and Children's Centres, more childcare and more places for family learning opportunities. It costs less than repairing damaged lives in the long run."

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Annette Brooke is the Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole. In her capacity as Shadow Minister for Children Annette she has:

Attended the launch of the Consultation Paper on Children and Families, and introduced the paper.

Spoken at the National Family and Parenting Institute Fringe meeting "What does Family Friendly mean now?"

Spoken at the Social Market Foundation meeting "Parent Power: what should policy makers be doing to harness it?"

Presented the YWCA fringe meeting "Yeah but no but….- What does Youth Matters Green Paper have to do with Vicki Pollard?"

Spoken at the BAAF (British Association for Adoption and Fostering) meeting on "Adoption Costs - love needs support".

The consultation paper Children and Families is available on the Liberal Democrat website - www.libdems.org.uk