Family Benefits (Absent Teenage Fathers)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 8:35 pm on 2 June 2009.

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Photo of Graham Allen Graham Allen Labour, Nottingham North 8:35, 2 June 2009

Moving away from the slightly punitive aspect that my hon. Friend has been describing, is that not a fantastic opportunity to communicate with fathers? If the father's name, and presumably his address, are known, it is open to the relevant agencies to inform him about parenting classes, and about how to use the right services to keep their family together, sustain relationships and so on. That moment is a great opportunity for early Intervention that might bring a number of fathers back to the mother and child, help them to realise their responsibilities and equip them to do the job more effectively.

intervention

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