Problem families

There is, I think, near-universal agreement that the prevention of social problems is the best way for society to deal with them. If a child is not neglected because the parents are weaned off addiction to hard drugs or alcohol, then that’s pretty obviously a good thing. Failing that, early intervention is the next best thing; if a child is being neglected then the sooner something is done to ameliorate the neglect, the better.

Both prevention and early intervention are the right things to do, both socially and financially. Social outcomes are greatly improved – the life chances of the previously or potentially neglected children are very much improved, and they are much, much less likely to be a long-term cost to the state, or to transmit their disadvantage through the generations. But the fundamental issue has always been the same; both prevention and early intervention are expensive forms of intensive social engagement, which means that the Treasury will always be sceptical.