Christian social policy charity CARE has expressed great concern at the findings of the UNICEF study, Child Poverty in Perspective, published this week.

Responses to the findings of the report have stressed "material factors" and, while Care has stated that it appreciates the validity of this approach, it points out that the failure of well-being is - to a very considerable degree - a relational problem.

A statement released by the Christian charity said: "Despite the clear correlation between good child development outcomes and marriage, the Government's continued reluctance to provide appropriate supports has the effect of putting in place a framework that fails to encourage an optimal child development environment for many children in Britain today.

"In the first instance the Government did away with Married Couples Tax Allowance in 1999-2000."

Adding to this point, CARE explained: "In the second instance they have developed a tax credits and wider benefits system that has the effect of creating an incentive for couples with children to live apart."

Research conducted by CARE on 98 low to modest income families in 2006 demonstrated that on average 70 per cent of the couples would have been, on average, £64 per week better off had they lived in separate dwellings. A very considerable loss when spread over a year.

The statement continued: "In the third instance investment in Marriage Support has fallen very considerably in recent years. The 1999 Hart report (commissioned by the Lord Chancellor) demonstrated that supporting the institution of marriage was a good use of taxpayer's money and this gave rise to the Marriage and Relationship Support Fund.

"This, however, came to an end in 2004 and now the same money is supposed to be allocated through the Children Young People and Families Grant. The only problem is that this does not even mention marriage in its funding criteria."

Daniel Boucher, CARE's Director of Parliamentary Affairs stated, "If the Government really wants to grapple with the problems outlined by today's UNICEF report, it must begin by developing robust policies on marriage. Financial disincentives against marriage must be removed and appropriate funding must be found to provide coherent marriage support services. These provisions will do much to promote the well-being of our children."

CARE said it was no surprise that a society that places so much emphasis on material standards of living, embracing a long hours culture which leaves little time for the ongoing renewal of family relationships, should run into the kinds of difficulties highlighted by the UNICEF Report.

"The emphasis on freedom of choice manifest in, for example, Sunday trading, jeopardises the ability of families to enjoy 'time off in common', an essential means of renewing our social capital as a nation and absolutely mandatory if we are to give our children the best future," the CARE statement concluded.