The Cost of Family Breakdown Published 2000 (Download Only)

(Download Only Version)

The family in Britain is in crisis. This is acknowledged by commentators across the political and social spectrum. Family breakdown is widespread. Few people do not know someone whose family has been affected by separation, divorce, cohabitation or single parenthood. There were 145,000 divorces in Britain in 1998, affecting just over 150,000 children. Each failed relationship produces pain and emotional hurt, creating an incalculable cost in human misery. The whole of society is affected by the social consequences of family breakdown. Huge financial costs are incurred not only by the individuals concerned, but also by local communities, the taxpayer, and society at large. Family breakdown impairs the health of the nation, reduces the educational achievement of its children, increases the crime rate, places a burden on the national economy and a strain on social relationships at all levels.

The direct costs of family breakdown cost each of the UK's 26.2 million tax payers an average of £11 per week. In addition to direct measurable costs this report discusses the hidden costs of family breaKdown, including Legal Aid, the running costs of the Child Support Agency and child psychology services. In addition to this the adverse impacts on outcomes of the children involved are also considered.

A number of reccommendations are made including ending no fault divorce for parents of under 18's, the introduction of steps to strenghten marriage and the establishment of pro-marriage education and mentoring programmes.

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The Cost of Family Breakdown Published 2000 (Hard Copy) £10.00