Support for families and households subject of Lords debate

The new report has outlined five ambitions to support and strengthen family life:

• Value families in all their diversity.
• Support relationships throughout life.
• Honour singleness and single person households.
• Empower children and young people.
• Build a kinder, fairer, more forgiving society.

Debate

The Archbishop of Canterbury put forward the debate. 

During debates, members put their experience to good use to discuss current issues and draw the government's attention to concerns.     

Members speaking 

Members speaking in the debate included:

• Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone (Conservative), former Secretary of State for Health.
• Lord Davies of Brixton (Labour), former leader of the Inner London Education Authority
• Bishop of Durham, co-chair of the Archbishops' Families and Households Commission
• Baroness Twycross (Labour), former member of the Greater London Assembly Housing Committee.

Opening the debate, the Archbishop of Canterbury said:

'Families come in so many shapes and sizes...At their best, they are the place of belonging and security, of growth, care, healing and reconciliation, of training in being a citizen.'

Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative), Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions, responded on behalf of the government:

'Providing support to create an environment where all children can thrive is a key priority for this government. In February, we published Stable Homes, Built on Love, which sets out our vision for a social care system built on love, safety and stability.'

Catch up

Watch on Parliament TV or read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Read the Archbishops' Commission report, 'Love Matters'.

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