To have and have not
Last year a United Nations survey found the United Kingdom to be the worst place in the developed world for children to grow up. Despite the economic growth of recent years, the gap between the worst off and the rest of society has widened.
There has been no reduction in social breakdown or welfare dependency, and our existing benefits system actually contributes to the difficulties. Social problems cause public spending and the state to mushroom. Family breakdown costs the taxpayer 24 billion per year at a conservative estimate. On top of that costs arising from educational underachievement of 18 billion and crime of 60 billion bring the total beyond 100 billion. Family-orientated plans are required which can serve to cut crime, drug abuse and tackle educational underperformance.
* Read the rest of Iris Robinson's column in tomorrow's paper.
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Weather for Belfast
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
