"Becoming a parent is easily the best thing I’ve done, and the smile of my boy can improve my mood quicker than anything I’ve ever known.” These
are the words of Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and
Surbiton, and one of three Surrey MPs we interviewed to get answers to
the questions relevant to you, the mums and dads of young babies and
toddlers. The other two were Surrey’s only sitting Labour MP, Mitcham and Morden’s Siobhan McDonagh; and Ian Taylor MBE, Conservative MP for Esher and Walton. We asked all three what they felt were the most important issues facing young families in Surrey today and have recorded their answers without comment.
 Siobhan said, “Young families are no different to anyone else, and the biggest issue facing all of us at present is the financial situation.” Edward agreed that financial issues were important, but pointed out this was not solely due to the recession. “When babies come along and incomes drop and expenses go up, many families struggle to make ends meet.”
He also talked about concerns specific to those with young children, something Ian also picked up on. The Conservative MP focused on concerns for children’s safety, access to decent schooling and getting the right balance between time devoted to educational activities, physical and creative activities, and playing on Nintendoes!
He also brought up anxieties about the effects of stress on older children, saying: “Only this week I read of a survey of eight-year-olds who are exhibiting signs of stress because they are worried about the ‘state of the world’ and matters that are traditionally the concern of grown ups.” As he brought up the state of the world, this leads us nicely into anxieties about the environment. As might be expected, this registered highly with Liberal Democrat Edward Davey. He said, “There is a need for massive international co-operation on tackling greenhouse gas emissions... Governments need to work together and in the UK we need huge investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency.”
He also mentioned our responsibility as parents. “We all of us need to look at our lifestyles, so we can all play our role. Whether it’s driving less polluting cars, using public transport more, insulating our homes better or flying less, there is something everyone can do.”
Siobhan also highlighted the need for greater international co-operation but was proud of our country’s recent efforts. “Britain’s been leading the way on getting a global approach to this, at Kyoto and Gleneagles and ever since.” In contrast, Ian stressed the need instead for parents to “take responsibility for imbuing their children with a sense of community and environmental conscience” and to “lead by example from parent to child, from nursery to university, educating and reinforcing the need for respect for our environment.” He also said that people should stop assuming that whenever there is a problem, another example being childhood obesity, it was up to the Government to act.
"What should Government do to help young families more?" we asked. Answering that work is the best way out of poverty and to raise a family’s expectations, Siobhan said, “We’ve got to do all we can to encourage parents to take jobs and of course to make sure there are jobs out there for them to take.”
Ian talked of the need to reform the childcare voucher scheme, arguing it was both difficult to benefit from and open to abuse. In its place he suggested, “We might ask the Government to consider a tax break to one named parent, up to a set amount per year towards childcare costs.”
Edward said it was important not to interfere with those families able to take care of themselves, but that a wider “menu” of support needed to be available for those who couldn’t.
“Examples of where we need greater flexibility range from more affordable, quality childcare to toy libraries and support for mothers who become isolated or depressed for whatever reason.”
Onto maternity and paternity rights, and both Siobhan and Ian were in general agreement that these were okay. “Maternity benefits are by and large sound,” Ian said; although he thought more could be done to inform fathers of their paternity rights, adding, “Our EU partners appear to be way ahead of us in this department.”
Siobhan answered, “I think it's great that parents have more generous employment rights than ever before, and it's right to look at whether we can do even more.” However, she sounded a note of caution. “At the same time, we have to remember it's difficult for employers at the moment.”
In sharp contrast, Edward described maternity and paternity rights as, “utterly inadequate - given the vital need of enabling parents to spend as much time as possible with babies and young infants.” He promised his party is about to publish detailed proposals to right this. Very much a case, he said, of “Watch this space!”
The current Government’s record received mixed reviews. Siobhan was unsurprisingly proud of the “mind-boggling number of children who have been lifted out of poverty” because of her party’s policies since 1997. She also singled out improvements in the quality of learning in schools as a massive achievement. Edward was happy to acknowledge progress on nursery education, maternity and paternity leave, child benefit and child tax credit. However, citing the tax credits overpayments fiasco, the CSA and the prioritising of the Child Trust Fund over reducing the size of primary school classes, he said, “The Government have mismanaged some programmes and had several bad ideas.”
Ian’s response was likewise mixed. He said it was right that those on low incomes and on benefit had been helped but that “every now and then it would be nice if they rewarded those of us who work hard, try to save and be responsible...”
Finally, we asked our MPs about their own experiences of parenthood. Siobhan McDonagh is childless so this
obviously did not apply to her, but new father Edward Davey answered, “Beyond the sheer joy and happiness, not to mention the sleepless nights and lifestyle change, the way it changes your whole attitude to life is the most dramatic effect. Suddenly this little boy becomes central in our lives and for our hopes and dreams.”
Perhaps Ian Taylor MBE’s confession is not quite so inspiring! He admits, “It was a long time ago! I was probably not as supportive of my wife as I now think I should have been.”
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