Welfare Reform on the Web (June 2004): Welfare State - UK

IS LABOUR HITTING POVERTY TARGETS?

Anon.

Labour Research, vol.93, May 2004, p.22-23

In 2002/03, 3.6 million children and 2.2 million pensioners were living in poverty. Since 1996/97, 700,000 children and half a million pensioners have been lifted out of poverty. The government will need more radical measures to halve child poverty by 2010. Pensioner poverty could be cut if state pensions were linked to earnings rises.

PARTNERSHIPS, NEW LABOUR AND THE GOVERNANCE OF WELFARE

C. Glendinning, M. Powell and K. Rummery

Bristol: Policy Press, 2004

Current policy encourages 'partnerships' between statutory organisations and professionals, between public and private sectors, with voluntary organisations and local communities. But is this collaborative discourse really as distinctive as the Labour government claims? How far do contemporary partnerships exemplify an approach to governing which is based on networks as distinct from hierarchies and markets? The government's claims are critically examined, using evidence from a wide range of partnerships, including health and social services, regeneration, pensions and community development.

SOCIAL COHESION

Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee

London: TSO, 2004 (House of Commons papers, session 2003/04; HC45)

Discusses how local and central government bodies can work across different cultural groups to promote social cohesion. Recommendations include:

• forcing single faith schools to promote multicultural education;
• promoting thematic regeneration schemes that tackle a particular need across a borough;
• forcing voluntary organisations to work across cultural divides as a condition of grant aid;
• reviewing choice-based lettings policies for social housing that may be encouraging segregation;
• ensuring that healthcare funding reflects the particular needs of black and minority ethnic groups.