Promotion of Marriages by the UK Government

Promotion of Marriages by the UK Government

Funding marriage programs

UK government support for marriages and relationships dates back in the 1940s. It is during this time that politics engaged much on marriage issues and matters concerning the marriage relationship. During the era, the attributes that surrounded traditional marriages were substantially upheld (Hyton, 2015). By then, the government showed great concern over marriage affairs by support and promotion through education and funds, though there was minimal financing (Wilson, 2006). However, in the year 2000, the government accepted the recommendations for increased funding for marriage institutions. Finances promoted education to the young people on marital matters (Van Acker, n.d).

Initiation of marriage programs

Initiatives such as the ‘Family Services Program’ provided education and counseling on marriages. One of the goals of such a program was to create awareness concerning marriage unions. Education egged of preventive measures for long-lasting and unbreakable relationships (Wray, 2016). In the 1990s, the Labor government increased funding for more training, and the response was positive. Almost twenty-eight thousand people out of who were married attended almost seventeen marriage sessions. The mission was to address the spiraling marriage breakups and divorces. By 1999, Howard’s government promoted marriages further by starting pre-marriage projects on young couples (Van Acker, n.d).

That is, in 1998, most of the factors that contributed to marriage breakdown includes unemployment and irresponsibility. The programs taught couples various ways to counter marriage differences and uncertainty awareness for persistent marriages.

 

Education

Authorities in England have obliged the education sector to incorporate sex education and marriage into the curriculum (Bellis et al. 2018). For instance, the ‘Children and Social Work Act 2017’ enumerates that all schools in primary level provide relationship education, and sex and relationship at the secondary school level (Van Acker, n.d). That was critical to endorse the population with the knowledge to build healthier families for the future generation.

Support Family Stability

Before the start of the First World War, divorce cases were very minimal. However, by 1923 after WWI, reforms concerning divorce emerged, and both couples had equal rights to petition for divorce. The changes added more grounds to divorces. Over the decades up-to-date, the UK government has intervened marriages to promote and give more resolutions to the differences to ensure stable families without breakups (Wray, 2016). Lone parents have increased nowadays and have created a significant impact on children. The government has published policy documents such as ‘Social Justice: Transforming Lives’ to embark on marriage promotion and successful cohabitating (Bellis et al. 2018). ‘Social Justice Outcome Framework has also worked out follow-ups on various programs to ensure positive response and results. Furthermore, the government has shown concern toward families undergoing separation (Van Acker, n.d). Also, the creation of a National couple’s week in the UK would be helpful to sensitize on the establishment of healthy marriage (UK: National Marriage Week, 1997).

 

 

An Outcry for Elimination of Taxation Burden  

In the UK, there has been a persistent burden on income earned by married couples. For instance, a one-earner who happens to be married and has two children in the UK gets 70% charges in tax more than a similar family in another state, such as the US or French (Bellis et al. 2018). That indicates families and marriages are being discouraged by the high taxation rates in the UK. However, a body such as Christian Action Research and Education (CARE)’ is on call to the government to reduce the tax rates or introduce tax allowances for married couples (Bellis et al. 2018). That will eliminate the notion that marriage is a burden and reduce the number of lone parents in the UK.