Key Issues in Key Issues in Social/Public Policy in the Social/Public Policy in the

UKUK

StructureStructure

• UK social geography

• The shifting policy landscape-Thatcher, Blair and beyond

• Some key Issues

• Attitudes towards social/public policy issues in the UK

UK UK RegionsRegions Source: Thomas

and Dorling,2004)

Population Density

and Change

Source: Thomas and Dorling,2004)

Geography of Wealth

Source: Dorling,2004)

Thatcherism……1980-1997Thatcherism……1980-1997 • Privatisation as central feature of economic and

social policy• Rolling back the state/revenue raising/wider

shared ownership• Over the period SOE`s virtually disappeared• General tone of neo-liberal and individualism in

relation to social mobility and welfare provision• Model for other national governments….Russia,

China etc?• A wider political project to redefine relationship

between state, economy and civil society

Thatcherism and Public PolicyNew agencies and institutions…• Liberalisation-opening up to competition, break up of

monopoly power (eg. British Rail,Post office) • Contracting out-the enabling state, market provision

-(reduced public sector employment-eg. refuse collection, rent collection)

• Charging-user pays, new charges or shift to market levels (eg private health care, private pensions)

• Withdrawal-complete shift to private/informal sector

ISSUES

• Socially divisive?

• ‘Selling the family silver’?

• Shareholder value rather than service delivery , short termism?

• The Right to Buy to Council Housing-controversial but popular initial policy

• Railways, water……

New Labour and the Third Way-1997…

• A post privatisation world

• Anthony Giddens, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair

• Distinctive approach to welfare state, social policy and citizenship (right and obligations)

• Welfare to workfare, no return to old style, redistributive centralised, comprehensive welfare state

• Modernising public services

We must transform the welfare state from a safety net in times of trouble to a

springboard for economic opportunity..The welfare state must

enable people to achieve self-improvement and self-support. It must

offer a hand-up, not just a hand-out

(Commission on Social Justice-published in 1994)

Reforming the the Public Sector..late Reforming the the Public Sector..late

1990s1990s • New public managementNew public management• Private sector values and management Private sector values and management

techniquestechniques• Quasi-markets/purchaser-provider splitQuasi-markets/purchaser-provider split• Mixed economy of provisionMixed economy of provision• More emphasis on targets/performanceMore emphasis on targets/performance• Discourse of partnerships/governanceDiscourse of partnerships/governance• Choice/clients as consumersChoice/clients as consumers• Evidence based policyEvidence based policy

Private Finance Initiatives Signed By Government Departments, 2004-Source,ESRC

Breakdown of PFI signed projects by Government department (December 2004)

Other

Education & Skills

Health

Work & Pensions

Home Office

Defence

Northern I reland

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Scotland

Wales

Transport

Policy Concern with Social Capital/ Social Cohesion

• Concern with social exclusion• Entrenched pockets of poverty, unemployment

and deviant social behaviour• The stresses and strains of a ‘multicultural

society?• Social cohesion from the bottom up-the locally

engaged and active are socially engaged citizens• Implication that investment in local areas

(housing, health, crime initiatives) more likely to be successful in communities with robust ‘social capital’-added value…

What is social capital?

“By analogy with notions of physical capital and human capital…social capital refers to features of social organisation such as networks, norms and trust that facilitate co-ordination and co-operation for mutual benefit. Social capital enhances the benefits of investment in physical and human capital”

Putnam (1993)

Multicultural Britain….

Britain is a diverse society with a long history of immigration. During the last fifty years in particular, it has become increasingly multicultural. The 2001 Census figure represented a 53 per cent growth in the minority ethnic population between 1991 and 2001 (ie, from 3.0 million in 1991, to 4.6 million).

Source:ESRC

Unemployment and EthnicityUnemployment and Ethnicity

Obesity in ChildrenObesity in Children

Some Key Issues in UK Education

• Unpopular/low performing state schools

• Middle class flight to private schools, particularly in London

• Social background of university entrants

• Funding of higher education-tuition fees

The Education Divide The Education Divide (from Machin and Wilson, 2005)(from Machin and Wilson, 2005)

The Privately Educated EliteThe Privately Educated EliteSource: Sutton TrustSource: Sutton Trust

The Housing Problem

“For many people, housing has become increasingly unaffordable over time. The aspiration for home ownership is as strong as ever, yet the reality is that for many this aspiration will remain unfulfilled unless the trend in real house prices is reduced. This brings potential for an ever widening social and economic divide between those able to access market housing and those kept out. Rising numbers in temporary accommodation is evidence of the polarisation which exists today.”

Barker Review,2004)

Welfare State Encourages People to Stop Helping Each Other (2004)

%

Agree strongly 3

Agree 21

Neither 39

Disagree 31

Disagree Strongly 3

No answer 3Source:British Social Attitudes

Welfare State Encourages Dependency

% %1983 2000

Agree strongly 24 9Agree 29 41Neither 21 23Disagree 12 24Disagree Strongly 9 1No answer 1 1Source:British Social Attitudes

Highest Priority for Extra Government Spending (2004)

%

• Health 52

• Education 26

• Police and Prisons 5

• Public Transport 4

• Housing 4Source:British Social Attitudes

Satisfaction with way National Health Service runs nowadays-2004

%

Very satisfied 10

Quite satisfied 34

Neither 17

Quite dissatisfied 22

Very Dissatisfied 16

No answer 1Source:British Social Attitudes

Multicultural Britain-better if racial/ethnic groups maintain customs

of blend into larger society

%

1995 2003

Maintain customs 16 20

Adapt and blend 65 54

Can`t choose 18 24

No answer 2 2Source:British Social Attitudes

Attitudes to Immigration %

1995 2003Increase a lot 1 2Increase a little 3 4Stay the same 27 16Reduce a little 24 23Reduce a lot 39 48Can`t choose 6 7No answer 1 -Source:British Social Attitudes

Greenhouse Effect Is..

%Extremely dangerous 23Very dangerous 27Somewhat Dangerous 37Not very dangerous 7Not dangerous at all 0Cant Decide 5No answer 1Source:British Social Attitudes (2000)

Importance of improving public transport in Britain-2004

%Very important 77Fairly important 18Not very important 2Not important at all -Can`t choose 2No answer 1Source:British Social Attitudes

Does social class affect opportunities in Britain today?

%1983 1997

A great deal 25 27Quite a lot 45 49Not very much 25 17Not at all 3 3No answer/others 2 3Source:British Social Attitudes

Effect of leaving the European Union on Britain`s economy-

%Better off 19Worse off 38Not much difference 24Can`t choose 17No answer 2

Source:British Social Attitudes, 1997