The British government published its Green Paper yesterday setting out its commitment to strengthening family life, and insisting it did not wish to interfere in the family or personal relationships.
The Home Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, hailed the document, Supporting Families, as an opportunity to provide children with greater stability.
Mr Straw said the consultation document had at its heart the welfare of children, and provided a comprehensive package designed to help families provide children with greater stability.
"Strong and stable families provide the best basis for raising children and building strong, supportive communities . . . It is no part of government or ministers' role to interfere in people's family lives or in adult personal relationships."
Highlighting the stresses of modern life on the family unit, which he said resulted in high rates of divorce and teenage pregnancy, Mr Straw acknowledged he was "tip-toeing through a minefield".
But he insisted he was not lecturing or hectoring single parents, gays or unmarried parents.
The paper concentrated on marriage but was not about setting a moral standard or returning to the ill-fated "back to basics" policy of the previous Conservative government.
Rather the issue was that evidence showed that the best way for two adults to raise their children was within the institution of marriage, and government departments should shore up the family where possible.
Among the ambitious proposals are a national institute for parenting and family which would offer practical information to the government and agencies working with families; improving preparation courses for marriage, including giving registrars a bigger role; encouraging `baby-naming ceremonies'; abolishing "quickie weddings"; enhancing the role of grandparents and health visitors; and promoting employment practices such as flexible working hours and job-share schemes.
the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, and Cardinal Basil Hume both welcomed the document.
But the Conservative deputy leader, Mr Peter Lilley, said the whole plan smacked of increased state intrusion into family life and that Mr Straw should have taken the opportunity to end tax discrimination against married couples who look after their own children.
The Liberal Democrats expressed concern that the plans could stigmatise the millions of children not raised by a married couple.
The lesbian and gay support group, Stonewall, said the focus on marriage in the Green Paper "won't put everything back together again" and called for an inclusive debate on the family.