Written question asked by Lord Northbourne (Crossbench) on Wednesday, 8 February 2017, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 February 2017. It was answered by Lord Henley (Conservative) on Wednesday, 22 February 2017 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Families

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to address issues arising from family breakdowns, and the impact on male children of growing up in a household without a resident father.

Answer: The Government recognises the damaging impact of conflict between parents on children’s outcomes. New evidence was published last year highlighting this link, and making clear that the presence or absence of parental conflict has a much greater impact on a child’s outcomes than the structure of the child’s family. Our child maintenance system encourages separated parents to collaborate and make family based arrangements where they can, working together in the interests of their child once they separate. Evidence shows that after separation where parents are able to take a collaborative, low conflict approach it is better for children’s outcomes, including over the involvement of the non-resident parent where this is appropriate, whether this is the child’s mother or father.

Secondary information