Two Family support and the Coalition: retrenchment, refocusing and restructuring
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Harriet Churchill
Abstract
This chapter reviews recent developments in family support policies, entitlements and services in the first 18 months of the UK Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government in the UK. In light of the major developments in family support and children’s services under the former Labour Government the chapter sets out three aspects of recent policy change: reductions in family support; a move away from principles of ‘progressive universalism’ to refocusing on targeted support and interventions for ‘dysfunctional and disadvantaged families’ and ‘the most disadvantaged children and young people’; and a new era of welfare state restructuring. While recognising the incremental nature of some policy changes, the chapter raises social justice and welfare concerns about the retreat in state support for families, children and young people which is accompanied by evermore emphasis on family responsibilities for children and childhood disadvantage.
Abstract
This chapter reviews recent developments in family support policies, entitlements and services in the first 18 months of the UK Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government in the UK. In light of the major developments in family support and children’s services under the former Labour Government the chapter sets out three aspects of recent policy change: reductions in family support; a move away from principles of ‘progressive universalism’ to refocusing on targeted support and interventions for ‘dysfunctional and disadvantaged families’ and ‘the most disadvantaged children and young people’; and a new era of welfare state restructuring. While recognising the incremental nature of some policy changes, the chapter raises social justice and welfare concerns about the retreat in state support for families, children and young people which is accompanied by evermore emphasis on family responsibilities for children and childhood disadvantage.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of tables and figures v
- Notes on contributors vii
- 40th anniversary preface xi
- Introduction 1
-
Current developments
- Universal Credit: overview and gender implications 15
- Family support and the Coalition: retrenchment, refocusing and restructuring 35
- Housing, the welfare state and the Coalition government 55
- The 2012/13 reforms of higher education in England: changing student finances and funding 77
- Division and opposition: the Health and Social Care Bill 2011 97
-
Social policy in the developed and developing worlds
- Immigrant-targeted activation policies: a comparison of the approaches in the Scandinavian welfare states 117
- Welfare retrenchment under Left and Right government leadership: towards a consolidated framework of analysis? 137
- From black hole to spring: the coming of age of social policy in the Arab countries? 165
- China’s developmental model in Africa: a new era for global social policy? 183
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Severe crisis: social policy in most challenging circumstances
- The Greek welfare state in the age of austerity: anti-social policy and the politico-economic crisis 205
- From opportunity to austerity: crisis and social policy in Spain 231
- From financial crisis to welfare retrenchment: assessing the challenges to the Irish welfare state 257
- The Great Recession and US social policy: from expansion to austerity 277
- Seeking refuge in the Nordic model: social policy in Iceland after 2008 297
- Index 319
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of tables and figures v
- Notes on contributors vii
- 40th anniversary preface xi
- Introduction 1
-
Current developments
- Universal Credit: overview and gender implications 15
- Family support and the Coalition: retrenchment, refocusing and restructuring 35
- Housing, the welfare state and the Coalition government 55
- The 2012/13 reforms of higher education in England: changing student finances and funding 77
- Division and opposition: the Health and Social Care Bill 2011 97
-
Social policy in the developed and developing worlds
- Immigrant-targeted activation policies: a comparison of the approaches in the Scandinavian welfare states 117
- Welfare retrenchment under Left and Right government leadership: towards a consolidated framework of analysis? 137
- From black hole to spring: the coming of age of social policy in the Arab countries? 165
- China’s developmental model in Africa: a new era for global social policy? 183
-
Severe crisis: social policy in most challenging circumstances
- The Greek welfare state in the age of austerity: anti-social policy and the politico-economic crisis 205
- From opportunity to austerity: crisis and social policy in Spain 231
- From financial crisis to welfare retrenchment: assessing the challenges to the Irish welfare state 257
- The Great Recession and US social policy: from expansion to austerity 277
- Seeking refuge in the Nordic model: social policy in Iceland after 2008 297
- Index 319
