Tories review 'red tape of childhood'

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The Conservatives have launched a review into the quality of childhood, focusing on how to remove "red tape" and enable children to have "vivid lives and everyday adventures".

The inquiry was ordered by Tory leader David Cameron after a Unicef report said children growing up in Britain experienced the lowest quality of life out of 21 countries in the developed world.

It is to be led by shadow education secretary David Willetts and will consider how the risks of modern life, such as "stranger danger" are affecting youngsters.

Looking at the issue of children growing up in a so-called 'flat world' in which they enjoy little or no independence, the review will also examine the dangers of advertising and the problems faced by boys in particular.

Willetts said there were already "lots of initiatives" for gifted and disadvantaged children and for improving academic results.

But he insisted: "The proposed focus for our investigation is different - how can we improve childhood for every child?
"Making friends, building relationships, experimenting, imagining, taking risks and making mistakes are important for the mental health and wellbeing of children.

"We have long warned about the dangers of red tape on business - we now need to worry about the red tape on childhood."

Launching the taskforce, Cameron said the lives of children had been affected by "a failure of leadership at every level".

The group will publish its review in the autumn and will be advised by well-known social commentators and childhood experts including crossbench peer and former Rowntree Trust director Richard Best and Bob Reitmeier, the chief executive of the Children's Society.

A Tory government would "reform the law...audit the welfare system and develop child-care systems" to improve quality of life, he pledged, adding, "And we’ll make sure that marriage is supported through the tax system."

He also highlighted the role of the community, business and parents, who he said teach children "their morals and their manners".

However, children's minister Beverley Hughes said the Tory leader was "all style and no substance".

She noted government schemes such as Sure Start and the implementation of free early years education for every three and four-year-old which show that "Labour is supporting parents and their families".

"David Cameron's warm words on early years are at odds with his commitment to a new spending rule that would mean spending £21bn less on public services this year - putting Labour's investment in children' centres and nurseries at risk," she added.

"He has repeatedly voted against Labour's investment in education and he voted against giving the parents of young children the right to request flexible working."

The government said last month's Unicef report was based on outdated figures, but the Tories seized on it, saying it highlighted that society was "in deep trouble".