Ministers failing to obey Cameron's call for 'family test'

Ministers are failing to implement David Cameron's own test to protect families, despite his insistence "the answer should always begin with family", according to a new report.

The report published on Tuesday revealed 10 out of 14 relevant departments could show no evidence where the Prime Minister's much heralded "family test" had been applied. It shows a variation in the appetite of ministers to apply the test, which was announced by Cameron in 2014.

The family test guidance said it is designed to encourage departments to consider impact of policies on families and then respond appropriately. Pixabay

The Department for Work and Pensions leads on the issue and has produced seminars to help other departments follow suit. However Business, Education and Defence were the only other departments able to point to instances where it had been applied.

The test is one part of Cameron's claim to run a compassionate Conservative government and he has frequently spoken of families as essential to fight poverty. In one speech he said: "From here on I want a family test applied to all domestic policy. If it hurts families, if it undermines commitment, if it tramples over the values that keeps people together, or stops families from being together, then we shouldn't do it."

However a group of charities working with families said the response of ministers was "patchy" and a "concern".

"The majority of departments have shown limited commitment to implementing the family test," says the report.

article,article,article,article Related

"It is clear that the Family Test is not, as yet, meeting the Prime Minister's commitment that it should be applied to all domestic policy."

The charities called for the family test to become a legal requirement when developing policy and say departments must publish their assessments in the interest of transparency.

Chief executive of the Family and Childcare Trust, one of the charities involved, said the family test was a "flagship government policy" but it was "clear" minister have not applied the test across all policies.

Nola Leach, CEO of Christian policy charity CARE, said the family test was an "innovative and bold concept" but said the lack of implementation was "very disappointing".

"If the Family Test is to become the powerful tool it should be in helping to safeguard family life it needs to become part of the culture of policy making across Whitehall," said Leach.

"Families are the very best safety net we have and given the cost of family breakdown is a colossal £47 billion a year, robust action is clearly needed."

CARE has campaigned for the family test to become statutory. The charity said it "wholeheartedly endorsed" the report's recommendations. 

related articles
The tax credits U-turn is helpful but the Tories must do more to help families
The tax credits U-turn is helpful but the Tories must do more to help families

The tax credits U-turn is helpful but the Tories must do more to help families

How Christian MPs are exposing Cameron's failure on family policy
How Christian MPs are exposing Cameron's failure on family policy

How Christian MPs are exposing Cameron's failure on family policy

Budget 2016: Why George Osborne should give married couples a break
Budget 2016: Why George Osborne should give married couples a break

Budget 2016: Why George Osborne should give married couples a break

Compassionate Conservatism: David Cameron's failed moral mission
Compassionate Conservatism: David Cameron's failed moral mission

Compassionate Conservatism: David Cameron's failed moral mission

News
How modern science owes its existence to Christian theology
How modern science owes its existence to Christian theology

Some people think that you have to choose between science and religion, but that is not the case. This is the story …

US religious groups challenge new immigrant enforcement policies
US religious groups challenge new immigrant enforcement policies

A United States Federal Judge has granted an injunction that will prevent immigration agents from carrying out operations in places of worship after a group of religious organisations launched a lawsuit against the Trump administration over new enforcement policies.

Gyles Brandreth joins campaign to end avoidable sight loss
Gyles Brandreth joins campaign to end avoidable sight loss

Gyles Brandreth has thrown his support behind CBM UK’s campaign to end avoidable sight loss.

Church leaders call for 'rethink' of school closures in Ramadan
Church leaders call for 'rethink' of school closures in Ramadan

“We urge the governors of the affected states to reconsider this decision and explore alternative arrangements that respect the rights and freedoms of all citizens.”