Frank Young: Reshuffles should be about policy as much as personalities
With reshuffles in the news this week, CSJ Campaigns Director Frank Young explains why he thinks reshuffles should be about policy direction as much as party management and how some policy areas, such as Family Stability, identified by the Prime Minister as a key issue for tackling poverty, don’t fit neatly into a single government department.
Read Frank’s blog here
CSJ POLICY RECOMMENDATION:
The appointment of a Cabinet-level Minister who will champion the family agenda at the highest level of Government; a Secretary of State with clear accountability for families who is resourced at a Department level to drive through a programme to strengthen families, boost stability and uphold fatherhood and its importance. Read the CSJ's Fully Committed report here.
Saskia Greenhalgh: Will the Government make a big alcohol addiction announcement alongside new guidelines for consumers?
CSJ Researcher Saskia Greenhalgh takes a look at the Government’s proposals for new guidance on alcohol consumption and asks the Government to announce a ground-breaking treatment policy alongside measures to curb alcohol addiction. Treatment for alcohol addiction needs to be at the forefront of efforts to tackle poverty.
Read Saskia’s blog here
CSJ POLICY RECOMMENDATION:
A Treatment Tax: The CSJ recommends introducing a small, ring-fenced treatment tax on every unit of alcohol that can be used to fund effective abstinence-based rehabilitation centres. This tax would only apply to off-trade sales, i.e. it would exclude any sales in pubs or restaurants. Read the CSJ's Ambitious for Recovery report here.
Frank Young: #DivorceDay doesn't have to be inevitable...
Responding to Divorce Day on Monday, Frank Young encourages the Government to increase its efforts to intervene and support Family Stability before relationships reach crisis point. The PM put Family Stability at the centre of his New Year’s announcement on priorities for 2016. The CSJ believes the Government can make a significant impact in this area by investing in relationship support.
Read Frank’s blog here.
CSJ POLICY RECOMMENDATION:
The CSJ is calling on the Government to invest an extra £15 million on targeted relationship support, tripling the amount the Government currently spends. Read the CSJ's Open Letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer here.
The Registry Office fee to be waived for couples intending to marry who take part in an accredited Marriage Preparation course. Read the CSJ's Fully Committed report here.