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New pamphlet warns of tough decisions to make Britain a child friendly society

NEWS RELEASE

28 January 2005

New pamphlet warns of tough decisions to make Britain a child-friendly society

The Fabian Society, the leading left-of-centre think tank, will launch a new pamphlet on Thursday addressing the key challenges for Government in making Britain a genuinely child-centred society. The launch of the pamphlet, Family Fortunes — the new politics of childhood is sponsored by the Pre-school Learning Alliance, a leading national educational charity.

This pamphlet, edited by Patrick Diamond, Special Adviser to Rt Hon Alan Milburn MP, Sunder Katwala, General Secretary of the Fabian Society and Meg Munn MP, is set to lead the way in shaping the political agenda on childhood and families. It covers a range of policy issues, including perceptions of equality, universal childcare and the role of the State in positive parenting.

The pamphlet's authors warn that building a society that gives all children the best chance in life will involve tough decisions for the Government, for employers and for the wider public. It will ultimately involve revisiting many contentious issues, such as public spending, tax and the politics of the family.

Keynote speaker Margaret Hodge MP, Minister for Children, Young People and Families, will be joined by commentator Polly Toynbee of the Guardian and the pamphlet's co-editor Meg Munn MP. Commenting on the launch, Sunder Katwala, General Secretary of the Fabian Society said:

"The Government will make the children's agenda more central to this General Election campaign than it has ever been. But the third-term challenge will be to knit these policies together. If Labour wants to define a clear sense of what its third term ought to achieve, it should make the agenda of children's life chances central to its public narrative in the same way that freeing the individual from the state was Thatcherism's driving force."

Steve Alexander, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance said:

"I am delighted to be part of the pamphlet's launch, as it provides an important perspective on where we are and what we need to do to make Britain a genuinely child-centred society. At a time when the Government is developing long term strategies for children's services, the authors have made important contributions to the debate around how we turn vision into reality."

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Andrew Fletcher
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7278 9037
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531 130
E: Andrew Fletcher

Notes for Editors:

  1. Copies and further information about the pamphlet Family Fortunes — the new politics of childhood is available from Claire Willgress, Fabian Society 020 7227 4900 or Andrew Fletcher, Pre-school Learning Alliance on 020 7278 9037.
  2. The Fabian Society is Britain's leading left-of-centre think tank and political society, committed to creating the political ideas and policy debate, which will shape the future of progressive politics. Further information about the Fabian Society can be found at: www.fabian-society.org.uk
  3. The Pre-school Learning Alliance links 15,000 pre-schools and 500,000 young children and their families in England. Established in 1961 and registered as an educational charity, the Alliance is the national dimension of the pre-school movement. The charity is involved in more Sure Start projects than any other organisation and operates a number of Neighbourhood Nurseries. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website: www.pre-school.org.uk.
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