Yesterday the Conservative MP Iain Duncan-Smith launched a paper arguing that homes with married couples provided the best environment for bringing up children. Unmarried couple were more likely to split up, he demonstrated, and chaotic single-parent back-grounds led to the neglect of children. But there is another scandal of parental neglect that has hitherto remained unremarked upon by Mr Duncan-Smith. I feel sure that it is because he has not been fully appraised of this hidden scandal.

Some children in Britain are in effect abandoned soon after birth into the haphazard 24-7 care of an ever-changing cast of inexperienced, non-qualified adults. They are barely seen by their parents. Eventually, after being forced to work long hours, they are sent away to institutions, sometimes at as young as five years old, where they have minimal contact with home. Their treatment scars them for life, and often they fall into bad company, collecting with like-minded individuals into groups intent on preying on the most vulnerable in society.*

It is my duty to pass this information on to Mr Duncan-Smith, for I am sure when he is fully aware, he will launch a new crusade to ensure this wilful neglect is tackled and ended.

Soon, I am sure, we will see a Conservative Campaign that calls for the end of Au-Pairs and Boarding Schools.

But then again, probably not.

* - such as the present Shadow Cabinet.