[West Ender]

I can understand any mother who wants to stay at home with her small children, I didn't work until mine were ready for Grammar School (but I had a husband with a well-paid job), but when they are at school it's a different matter and if it's possible mum should work. The help should come in finding suitable employment for them and persuading employers to accept flexi-time working.

Both my daughters have been single parents (Nik still is) and both have always worked. It wasn't easy for either of them but neither was prepared to be a "single-mother-on-benefits".