The archbishop said in a statement: "I particularly welcome the explicit recognition that marriage provides the surest foundation for raising children and the undertaking to strengthen the institution of marriage.

"This is work, of course, in which churches and clergy up and down the land have been deeply involved for generations and to which we remain profoundly committed."

The government says children are best brought up by stable couples

Groups working with families experiencing problems added their support for the measures put forward, but questioned whether they would be backed by increased funding.

Relate spokeswoman Julia Cole told BBC News Online: "I think from Relate's point of view a great deal of excellent material in consultation document.

"But if these measures are to be implemented we are going to need extra funding. Relate would be absolutely delighted to implement these strategies, they can't be done without a sufficient injection of cash."

She added that another fear was that the consultation paper might never evolve into a Bill before parliament.

"There is no promise that there will be any kind of delivery," she said. "It may be that it will come down to being issued as guidelines rather than set down in law."

Jim Parton, chairman of Families Need Fathers, said the government was right to try to address social problems.

"I think the government's heart is in the right place," he said.

"They've identified a problem, a lot of marriages and relationships are breaking down and something must be done."

But Family and Youth Concern believe the government will not target the right areas.

Director Valerie Riches said: "We support a family founded on marriage as the safest institution for children and society.

"The government is aiming to interfere in the family situation, it's like a fascist state.

"This is an example of more jobs for the boys and more bureaucracy."

Angela Mason, director of the lesbian and gay rights group Stonewall said of the campaign: "It's not Back to Basics but it's a muddle.

Angela Mason: Proposals are "a muddle"

"There are some good ideas in the paper, but because it takes this position that marriage is best I think it does end up in a rather preachy mode.

She said she was particularly concerned by Home Secretary Jack Straw's remarks that gay couples should not normally adopt children.

"There is no evidence that lesbian and gay parents aren't as good as everybody else," she said.

"There are thousands of children living in care who would benefit from being brought up in a home and I don't think anyone should be disqualified because of their sexuality."

But the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders said the proposal within the consultation paper could help cut crime.

Principal Officer Paul Cavadino said: "Children are more likely to become delinquent or anti-social where there is family conflict, poor supervision and excessively harsh or inconsistent discipline.