Daily roundup: Loughton criticism, CAMHS cutbacks and parental alcohol warning

Former children’s minister Tim Loughton has hit out at the government for failing to act on a pledge to recognise marriage in the tax system. Writing in the Telegraph, Loughton said it was a “huge let down” that last week’s autumn statement did not feature proposals to introduce a transferable tax allowance between couples. “Research in the US has shown that a stable family home can raise a child’s chances of escaping the poverty trap by 82 per cent,” Loughton said. “So this measure represents an important element in the government’s vital battle against child poverty, coupled with raising the game of an education system that has long suffered from a poverty of expectation for too many of our children from disadvantaged postcodes.”

Two thirds of staff working with children and young people with mental health problems say quality of care has been affected by budget cutbacks. A survey by YoungMinds which quizzed 300 children and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) professionals found that 77 per cent reported a cut in their 2012/13 budget. A total of 74 per cent reported a drop in staffing numbers, while 68 per cent said the threshold for accessing services had increased because of budget changes. Sarah Brennan, chief executive of YoungMinds, said: “This is a worrying snapshot of life in some CAMHS around the country. YoungMinds is deeply concerned at the effect cuts are having on the quality of service offered to children and young people.”

Children are more likely to become binge drinkers if their parents drink heavily in front of them, a report has found. Research by think tank Demos found that parents with high alcohol consumption were less likely to practise the “tough love” type of parenting that can stop children becoming heavy drinkers. The report calls for information awareness campaigns aimed at parents to help them consider their parenting style. It also suggests that family interventions should place more emphasis on parenting advice, so those struggling with alcohol misuse can still be effective parents.

Child abusers could take advantage of rushed assessments as a result of six-month targets for placing children in care for adoption, it has been claimed. The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) made the claim during an evidence session for an inquiry by the All Party Parliamentary Committee on Social Work into the state of the profession. Judith Acreman, BASW member, said demanding “more speed with fewer resources” was an invitation to child abusers to exploit weaknesses in the system.

The English Baccalaureate will place many pupils at a serious disadvantage, including those with special educational needs and from disadvantaged families, the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has warned. The charity is calling on the government to delay the introduction of the qualification, set to replace GCSEs in 2015, until they have been trialled in schools. NCB highlighted concerns with the proposals in its response to a government consultation on reforms to Key Stage 4 qualifications. It said the EBacc’s emphasis on final examinations would put mobile children at a disadvantage, such as looked-after children, young people in custody, young people accessing health treatment, and those living in short-term accommodation. “The government needs to seriously reflect upon the consequences of rushing to introduce harder examinations, designed to ensure more students fail,” said Hilary Emery, chief executive of NCB.

Mothers who smoke during pregnancy triple the risk of their child contracting meningitis, research has found. A study by the UK Centre for Tobacco Studies which assessed the effects of second-hand smoke on the risk of invasive meningococcal disease in children (known as meningitis), also found passive smoking in the home after birth doubled the risk. In under-fives, the dangers were even higher. The report, published in the BMC Public Health journal concluded that an extra 630 cases of invasive meningococcal disease in children under 16 are directly attributable to smoke exposure in UK homes every year.