In an interview with Holyrood magazine Goldie said that Scottish politicians have an “immediate obligation” to help those who are struggling with the responsibilities of parenthood.

She said: “If a parent who is unable to cope produces a child, that child grows up and as a teenager becomes a parent and that individual has never had the benefit of responsible parental influence, what can that child pass on to its child - unless it is a very remarkable individual.”

Goldie said that we are “now beginning to see the consequence of two or three generations of inability to parent”, which she called a “deeply troubling manifestation of modern society.”

She continued: “Fortunately there are many parents who are responsible, effective, positive parents and their children are a fine advertisement for them. But there is no doubt about it that those who are not coping with the obligations of parenthood are contributing to a social situation that we have got to do something about.”

Goldie said the issue of “generational parenting” has accumulated over the last 20 to 30 years and could not be solved within a single parliamentary term. As such she said there is a need for a “complete review” of parenting, with a greater emphasis on education.

“We have to try and start doing something in education because there is no point in either ignoring this or somehow managing to convey to children of 10 or 11 that parenthood is a yawn and anyone can do it. If you become a parent at 16 or 17 you can cope, everything is fine. That’s not the reality, so I do think we have to be contemplating a complete review of how we are bringing our youngsters up and what we are saying to them.”

However, she stressed that she doesn’t think this should be an extra burden placed on teachers, instead arguing that the voluntary and charity sectors could play a key role here.

“You will find people leaping to the conclusion that I am wanting to put this burden on teachers. I am not. I think teachers are the last people you put this burden on.

“But I think you have to be imaginative in saying if we are going to provide information or guidance or some form of education to kids at school, if you are not going to do it through the teachers, how are you going to do it? And the answer can only be through the voluntary or charitable sector.”

She continued: “Some of the most important imparting of education has not come from the local authority teachers or the Government, it has come from charities who have rehabilitated drug addicts then gone in to speak to the children. And the children have said, I’m going to listen to this.”

She said that when she raised the issues of tackling drug abuse and the potential benefits of minority government, she fully expects to be ridiculed for taking a tough stance on this issue also.

“When I first raised the issue of drug misuse with the last administration, I was treated with derision and the reaction was incredibly hostile, but I will not be wafted away on this and other very serious issues,” she said.

“But I know I’m right and I’m damned if I’m going to be deflected on this and I’m going to go on banging this drum and try to do something about this.”