Family breakdown is set to cost the taxpayer a staggering £47 billion in 2015, according to new figures released by a leading relationship think tank. The Relationships Foundation’s ‘Cost of Family Failure Index’ calculates annually the economic effects on society as a result of families splitting up. The Index analyses the cost of benefits, housing, health and social care, policing, the courts and education. These latest figures showed that there would be a £1,546 cost to each taxpayer a year, and disclosed an overall increase of £10 billion when compared to figures released in 2009 (£37 billion). In a press release, the Foundation said, ‘the cost of family failure continues to rise’, It shows that family breakdown not only has a terrible human cost in terms of the emotional toll on all members of the family, but also an enormous financial cost to society as the taxpayer picks up the pieces.’

The Minister for Civil Society has commended the 'excellent work' that charities promoting religion do in the UK. Rob Wilson was responding to a question in the House of Commons by Sir Edward Leigh, who raised concerns over whether so called British values would trump religious values and prevent groups from teaching their own faith. In his response, the Minister said: ‘More than 25,000 registered charities involve the promotion of religion. They play a hugely important role in our communities and support those in need. I pay tribute to their excellent work. They are often first in and last out of some of our toughest communities.’ The issue was raised following a decision by the Charity Commission to remove the charitable status of a group linked to the Plymouth Brethren. It led to some feeling Christian groups could be targeted in future for bringing their faith into their charitable work.

The Government is still in talks with a drugs company over the price of the jab but figures released by the Department of Health reveal that 1,065 people, including 613 children, have contracted meningitis B since it was licensed for use. Scientists recommended that the vaccine should be given to all infants. Yet almost a year on, despite the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommending Bexsero – the Department of Health has not been able to agree a price with makers Novartis since negotiations began last August. Last night Luciana Berger, the shadow minister for public health, warned that lives were being lost while the Government haggles over the cost of the vaccine. She said: ‘In the time that has passed since this life-saving vaccine was licensed, experts say more than 1,000 cases of meningitis B have been diagnosed and there are likely to have been around 100 deaths and many more children left with life changing consequences.’

A group of major Churches is promoting access to responsible credit and savings with the launch of the Churches Mutual Credit Union Ltd. (CMCU). The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, joined the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev John Chalmers and the President of the Methodist Conference, The Rev Ken Howcroft, at Church House in London, to celebrate their churches' collaboration in forming the flagship credit union. The CMCU, which also includes the Scottish Episcopal Church, and the Church in Wales, will offer a range of savings and loan products.  Fairness will be at the heart of the CMCU's values.  Initially members will be able to invest in the 'Founder Member's Bond' with ordinary savers accounts and loans becoming available in March.  In due course CMCU will offer ISA savings accounts.

A survey of clergy finds loneliness is a significant problem in both wealthy and deprived areas of England. Loneliness and isolation are England’s most widespread social problems and are common even in affluent middle class areas, according the survey. The number of clergy reporting that social isolation is a major problem in their area has risen by ten per cent in the past three years. The survey published by the Church Urban Fund and the Church of England showed loneliness was the only issue to be cited by clergy as a significant problem in the majority of wealthier, as well as deprived areas. Social isolation was listed as a more common problem than unemployment, homelessness and poor housing by the 1,812 clergy who completed the questionnaire. In London, nearly three quarters of vicars said social isolation was a major or significant problem in their community. (See also Prayer Alert 04-2017)

Bishop Libby Lane launched a campaign on Monday against human trafficking, her first official engagement since becoming the Church of England's first female bishop. Bishop Lane, who was consecrated last month, visited Manchester Airport to raise awareness of the issue. Staff will be given training on the identification of at-risk passengers as part of the Travel Safe Week initiative in partnership with Border Force, the airport chaplaincy and local organisations who work with victims. Speaking to Sky News, Bishop Lane said the training would allow staff to ‘be alert to those indications that perhaps relationships between people are not all that they seem and to be able to spot the signs that people are at risk and are vulnerable. We hope that the publicity and the information in and around the airport will give those people the courage and hope to be able to turn to those who may be able to help them.’ (See also article in 04-2015 Prayer Alert.)

Lord Faulkner’s private members’ bill on ‘Assisted Dying’ was debated again recently. Some issues covered by the private members’ bill attract greater public interest than others. Discussions and votes are an important safety valve, people then express their views by e-mail, petition or demonstration and put pressures on the Government. If there is clear support for a Bill, there is a case for returning to the issue and persuading Government to bring in a Bill of its own. The Assisted Dying Bill is a good example of one attracting considerable interest. The ‘Dignity in Dying’ campaign supports the Assisted Dying Bill. They are generating much interest on line and in the media to make assisted dying happen. The implications of this Bill going through are huge. In 1967 an abortion bill was supposedly ring-fenced and safe; now millions of lives are destroyed. See also 

Councils are putting the elderly and disabled ‘up for auction’ on eBay-style websites where care homes bid against each other to offer them a bed. More than a dozen local authorities are listing vulnerable people’s details including their age and what care and medication they need. Care homes in the area are then invited to bid to offer the elderly person a home. Often, the cheapest offer wins. The bidding is sometimes open for only a few hours but at other times it can last for two or three days. It means the patient or their family often do not see the care home, and that those running the home do not see the patient before they arrive. One critic likened the system to ‘auctioning your granny’ and said it was like a ‘cattle market’. Others complained that computers are only interested in costs and should not be making sensitive decisions about an elderly resident’s final years.

An urgent review of parish structure - including the number of churchwardens and other office-holders - is needed to release the time and energy of clergy and lay people for mission in rural areas, a report has recommended. The report, 'Released for Mission: Growing the rural Church', will be debated at General Synod next week. Two-thirds of C of E churches are in rural areas, but fewer than half the clergy serve in them. The vast majority of rural churches are in multi-parish benefices or groupings. Clergy working in multi-church groups - some of whom have as many as 11 or more churches to look after - report feelings of exhaustion, as they rush to conduct as many services in as many churches as possible each Sunday. The Bishop of Knaresborough, the Rt Revd James Bell, said, ‘Rural ministry must be re-thought in a way that is authentic to the place and people to whom the Church is reaching out.’

New plans to reduce the number of ‘avoidable deaths’ in English hospitals have been unveiled by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. Mr Hunt said an annual review of 2,000 cases of patients who later died would allow hospitals to be ranked according to avoidable mortality rates. Mr Hunt said there were about 1,000 avoidable deaths in the NHS per month. These statistics would be used to establish a national rate of avoidable deaths. As part of the drive, hospital chairmen will have to update the Health Secretary every year with their plans to eradicate avoidable deaths. Mr Hunt also promised additional training for new clinical staff.  Hospital mortality rates expert Professor Nick Black said: ‘A national annual review would place England as the first country in the world to monitor the extent of avoidable deaths, and provide a basis for stimulating quality improvement in each individual hospital.’