Letter: Help for mothers to prevent 'home alone' children

Sir: Today's story of the baby of two left at home alone every day for two years is appalling ('Mother jailed for leaving girl on her own'). It makes me even more convinced that the idea I put forward to every Member of the House of Commons, in June 1991, is the only way to treat our children in the future.

I suggested that mothers should not receive child benefit as they do now, but should be paid to stay at home for the first five years of the child's life so that it has their love and attention. We all know now that this would prevent the crimes which are committed every day by unwanted children who have never known love and affection.

The MPs were not impressed, and merely said they would increase the child benefit in the autumn, which was not the right answer. In the meantime, after I had started this campaign France brought it in, as did Sweden.

Today's story follows the endless horrors that take place when the children are taken 'into care'. I can only beg those who are really worried about the future generation to think again about this very simple way of making a child happy, contented and properly looked after, at least for the first five years of its life.

Yours faithfully,

BARBARA CARTLAND

Hatfield,

Hertfordshire

3 August