This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6281350.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Tory group backs alcohol tax rise Cameron aiming to 'mend society'
(about 2 hours later)
A tax rise on alcohol to help tackle binge drinking is among proposals being put forward by a Tory policy group. Tory leader David Cameron has said mending Britain's "broken society" is the biggest challenge facing the UK.
The move would raise an extra £400m a year, with about 7p more on a pint, to help fund treatment of alcohol abuse, the Social Justice Policy Group says. Citing high crime rates, drug abuse and teenage pregnancies, he said there was something "deeply wrong" and "long-term generational change" was needed.
David Cameron has tasked the group with producing social policy ideas to mend what he calls "broken" society. Mr Cameron was speaking to the BBC's Sunday AM show ahead of a report by the party's Social Justice Policy Group.
The group's proposals are not binding. The alcohol tax plan is thought unlikely to be backed by Mr Cameron. A rise in the tax on alcohol to help tackle binge drinking is among the proposals it will contain.
'Cultural change'
In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Cameron called for changes to the tax and benefits system to encourage couples to stay together and marry.
"We need a big cultural change in favour of fatherhood, in favour of parenting, in favour of marriage," he added.
HAVE YOUR SAY Tax rise can be a motivation for people to stop drinking too much, but it will take time before we see the actual results Billy Gionis, London Send us your comments He said the Conservatives would make a greater effort to reach out to Muslims with the help of newly appointed shadow minister for community cohesion, Sayeeda Warsi.
And he insisted there was a still "a huge gulf" between the Conservatives and Labour, despite the parties sharing several advisors, including former Metropolitan Police chief Lord Stevens.
"We come into politics to get things done. If sensible ideas that we've put forward are going to be taken up (by the government) that's great," he said.
Cannabis classingCannabis classing
The group, led by former party leader Iain Duncan Smith, is due to publish a report entitled Breakthrough Britain on Tuesday. The policy group, led by former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith, is due to publish its report, entitled Breakthrough Britain, on Tuesday.
The group believes its proposals for more tax on beer, wine and spirits will help discourage people from binge drinking, but also generate money to fund treatment centres for those with drink problems. Its idea on higher alcohol taxes would add about 7p to the cost of a pint, and raise an extra £400m a year to help fund treatment of alcohol abuse.
HAVE YOUR SAY Tax rise can be a motivation for people to stop drinking too much, but it will take time before we see the actual results Billy Gionis, London class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6831&edition=1&ttl=20070708085332">Send us your comments However, this is not expected to be backed by Mr Cameron, after a source close to the Tory leadership said some proposals "will be adopted, others wont be".
Among its other proposals are that state schools in England judged by Ofsted to be "failing" should be freed from local authority control and run by charities and parents. Among the group's other proposals are that state schools in England judged by Ofsted to be "failing" should be freed from local authority control and run by charities and parents.
It says pupils in disadvantaged schools should each get £500 for extra academic, musical or sport tuition.It says pupils in disadvantaged schools should each get £500 for extra academic, musical or sport tuition.
The group will also make suggestions about drug policies. The report will also recommend reversing the downgrading of cannabis from a class B to a class C drug.
It will claim the government's drug policies have become "part of the problem" in Britain, and will recommend reversing the downgrading of cannabis from a class B to a class C drug. And it will also say that heroin users should be encouraged to tackle their abuse by going "cold turkey", rather than be treated with substitutes such as methadone.
The report will also suggest heroin users should be encouraged to tackle their abuse by going "cold turkey", rather than being treated with substitutes such as methadone.
'Underclass'
The group published an interim report in December last year that claimed an underclass was being "left behind" by the rest of society.
At the time, Mr Cameron said the report highlighted "clearly the links that exist between social breakdown, family breakdown, educational failure, indebtedness and drug and alcohol abuse".
BBC political correspondent Robin Brant said the alcohol tax rise plan "which would affect almost everyone is unlikely to find much favour with David Cameron".
Our correspondent said a source close to the leadership had praised the work of the review group, but added that some proposals "will be adopted, others wont be".