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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'Problem families' scheme set out | 'Problem families' scheme set out |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Details of the government's plan to improve the "life chances" of problem families are to be revealed. | Details of the government's plan to improve the "life chances" of problem families are to be revealed. |
| In a speech, Tony Blair will set out a scheme to intervene before children are even born to stop them turning into troublemakers later. | In a speech, Tony Blair will set out a scheme to intervene before children are even born to stop them turning into troublemakers later. |
| He is expected to give more details of the idea, which critics say sounds too much like "eugenics". | He is expected to give more details of the idea, which critics say sounds too much like "eugenics". |
| The prime minister's speech comes during a two-day regional tour which follows his summer visit to Balmoral. | The prime minister's speech comes during a two-day regional tour which follows his summer visit to Balmoral. |
| His spokesman said: "If you look at the figures of what happens to children in care and their offending rate, that is quite shocking. | His spokesman said: "If you look at the figures of what happens to children in care and their offending rate, that is quite shocking. |
| "What the prime minister will be setting out is a way in which we work with those who are socially excluded to try to improve their life chances. That's the key. | "What the prime minister will be setting out is a way in which we work with those who are socially excluded to try to improve their life chances. That's the key. |
| Early intervention will help families break the cycle of exclusion but it must be done in a way that does not stigmatise Clare TickellChildren's charity NCH href="/1/hi/uk/5315206.stm" class="">'My son's not a problem child' href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5311684.stm" class="">PM 'right' not to name the day | |
| "That's why this isn't just about trying to deal with the problem where relatively few numbers of individuals or families are causing disproportionate problems for society. | "That's why this isn't just about trying to deal with the problem where relatively few numbers of individuals or families are causing disproportionate problems for society. |
| "It's also about helping those individuals and families improve their life chances." | "It's also about helping those individuals and families improve their life chances." |
| Last week Mr Blair told BBC News there needed to be earlier intervention, "even pre-birth", with children of "dysfunctional families" and teenage mothers who were not in stable relationships. | Last week Mr Blair told BBC News there needed to be earlier intervention, "even pre-birth", with children of "dysfunctional families" and teenage mothers who were not in stable relationships. |
| 'Foetal Asbo fears' | 'Foetal Asbo fears' |
| There should be sanctions against parents who refused help, he said. | There should be sanctions against parents who refused help, he said. |
| But he did not explain in detail how the plans would work. | But he did not explain in detail how the plans would work. |
| The plans were branded "foetal Asbos" in the media and also came under fire from former Labour Cabinet minister Tony Benn. | The plans were branded "foetal Asbos" in the media and also came under fire from former Labour Cabinet minister Tony Benn. |
| "This one about identifying troublesome children in the foetus - this is eugenics, the sort of thing Hitler talked about," he told BBC's Five Live. | "This one about identifying troublesome children in the foetus - this is eugenics, the sort of thing Hitler talked about," he told BBC's Five Live. |
| 'No stigma' | 'No stigma' |
| Children's charity NCH said Mr Blair must honour his promise to introduce lasting solutions to help the most excluded people. | Children's charity NCH said Mr Blair must honour his promise to introduce lasting solutions to help the most excluded people. |
| NCH chief executive Clare Tickell said: "Early intervention will help families break the cycle of exclusion but it must be done in a way that does not stigmatise. | NCH chief executive Clare Tickell said: "Early intervention will help families break the cycle of exclusion but it must be done in a way that does not stigmatise. |
| "The government must realise that families need support to change, not to be punished because they are struggling." | "The government must realise that families need support to change, not to be punished because they are struggling." |
| The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which is hosting Mr Blair's speech, called for a balanced approach. | The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which is hosting Mr Blair's speech, called for a balanced approach. |
| Its director, Lord Best, said: "The underlying causes of many of society's problems can be traced back to child poverty and, although government is making progress, there is still a long way to go to meet the prime minister's pledge to end it by 2020." | Its director, Lord Best, said: "The underlying causes of many of society's problems can be traced back to child poverty and, although government is making progress, there is still a long way to go to meet the prime minister's pledge to end it by 2020." |