Seven The primacy of ideology: social policy and the first term of the National Assembly for Wales
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Paul Chaney
Abstract
This chapter emphasises how the Welsh Assembly lacks both tax-varying and primary legislative powers. It is argued that this ‘social policy body’ has the ability for policy innovation and divergence. The chapter shows that certain events in Scotland and Wales during the first terms of the devolved administrations support the claim that as the devolution process evolves, it becomes necessary to speak of the national health services of the UK instead of its NHS. ‘West Lothian’ questions and the ‘Barnett formula’ are discussed in the chapter as well.
Abstract
This chapter emphasises how the Welsh Assembly lacks both tax-varying and primary legislative powers. It is argued that this ‘social policy body’ has the ability for policy innovation and divergence. The chapter shows that certain events in Scotland and Wales during the first terms of the devolved administrations support the claim that as the devolution process evolves, it becomes necessary to speak of the national health services of the UK instead of its NHS. ‘West Lothian’ questions and the ‘Barnett formula’ are discussed in the chapter as well.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Notes on contributors v
- Introduction 1
-
Developments in UK social policy
- Housing policy: coming in from the cold? 13
- The NHS in England: from modernisation to marketisation? 29
- Developments in social security 45
- The rise of the meritocracy? New Labour and education in the second term 61
- The personal social services 81
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Social policy in the wider context
- ‘Scottish solutions to Scottish problems’? Social welfare in Scotland since devolution 101
- The primacy of ideology: social policy and the first term of the National Assembly for Wales 121
- Attlee versus Blair: Labour governments and progressive social policy in historical perspective 143
- Christian democracy, social democracy and the continental ‘welfare without work’ syndrome 167
- Activation through thick and thin: progressive approaches to labour market activation 187
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Social policy since 1979 – the impact of Thatcherism
- Social policy since 1979: a view from the right 211
- Mrs Thatcher’s legacy: getting it in perspective 231
- Privatisation, privatisation, privatisation: the British welfare state since 1979 251
- Social policy since 1979: a view from the USA 271
- Index 291
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Notes on contributors v
- Introduction 1
-
Developments in UK social policy
- Housing policy: coming in from the cold? 13
- The NHS in England: from modernisation to marketisation? 29
- Developments in social security 45
- The rise of the meritocracy? New Labour and education in the second term 61
- The personal social services 81
-
Social policy in the wider context
- ‘Scottish solutions to Scottish problems’? Social welfare in Scotland since devolution 101
- The primacy of ideology: social policy and the first term of the National Assembly for Wales 121
- Attlee versus Blair: Labour governments and progressive social policy in historical perspective 143
- Christian democracy, social democracy and the continental ‘welfare without work’ syndrome 167
- Activation through thick and thin: progressive approaches to labour market activation 187
-
Social policy since 1979 – the impact of Thatcherism
- Social policy since 1979: a view from the right 211
- Mrs Thatcher’s legacy: getting it in perspective 231
- Privatisation, privatisation, privatisation: the British welfare state since 1979 251
- Social policy since 1979: a view from the USA 271
- Index 291
