Lone Parent Employment

As the Minister said, this is an extremely important debate. It is a pity that there are not more hon. Members here to contribute. The Minister has clearly set out some of the issues and challenges that the Government faced in 1997. I shall sketch out my party's view of some of those challenges and draw attention to some of the Government's genuine achievements. However, in case we get too consensual, in view of the small number of Members present, I shall go on to consider some of the potential deficiencies in the Government's plans. I hope that the Minister will view that as a constructive part of the debate about the Green Paper—[Interruption.] If I am not being misled by my Conservative colleague, the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell), whose pager service is working better than mine, I should like to be the first in the House to welcome my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for North-East Fife, the excellent Sir Ming Campbell, as the new leader of my party. I am pleased to say that he is the one whom I supported.