Politics UK

Eleventh Edition

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Chapter 24

Social policy in the UK

Chapter Summary

Social policy is a very complex area, and this chapter has only offered a brief summary of the most significant recent changes to the UK welfare state. The chapter illustrates how social policy expenditure fluctuates over time, based on different government approaches. The UK welfare state has adapted in many ways for example, with the increased numbers of women participating in paid employment, it has responded to Brexit, and the Covid19 pandemic and been adapted by successive governments following its inception. Many adaptations such as increased, choice and competition as well as devolved powers have had varying and contested effects.  UK policy is no longer the universal vision that Beveridge (1942) outlined because it has become increasingly ‘residualised’, in terms of means tested transfers, and reduction in provision such as social housing. Devolution has resulted in different service approaches across the UK, especially for social care, NHS charges, and education. Future social policy revisions will undoubtedly be made by the newly elected La-bour government in July 2024,  shaped by many challenges including concerns about population changes, inequalities, the ability of NHS services to meet increasing demands versus the amount of money available in the public purse to spend on social security.

Learning Objectives

  • Define social policy: understand what social policy is and how it comprises various types of provision (public, private, voluntary, and occupational) within a ‘mixed economy of welfare.’
  • Explore social policy history: describe the historical context of social policy in the UK, including recent trends.
  • Analyse current elements: examine the different components of current UK social policy, such as transfer payments (e.g., pensions, unemployment support) and ser-vices (e.g., health and social care).
  • Evaluate contemporary challenges: identify and assess the challenges faced by UK social policy makers, including those related to population ageing, the cost of living crisis and health related issues.

Quizzes

Test your knowledge with the Chapter 24 quizzes!

Quiz

Discussion Questions

  1. Given rising costs and an ageing population, should the UK government increase social spending or shift more responsibility to individuals through private welfare solutions? What are the potential risks and benefits of each approach?
  2. Different UK nations have adopted varied approaches to social policy, including differences in healthcare funding, higher education fees, and social care provision. Does this flexibility improve social outcomes, or does it lead to greater inequality between regions?

Child Poverty Action Group – A charity that provides research and advocacy on poverty, social security, and welfare policy in the UK. (https://cpag.org.uk/)

Equality Trust – An organization campaigning for economic and social equality by reducing the gap between rich and poor. (https://equalitytrust.org.uk/)

Joseph Rowntree Foundation – A research and policy organization focusing on tackling poverty and social injustice. (https://www.jrf.org.uk/)

Full Fact – A fact-checking organization providing accurate information on UK social policies, healthcare, and welfare. (https://fullfact.org/)

King’s Fund – A leading think tank analyzing UK health and social care policy. (https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/)

Turn2Us – A charity providing support and information about benefits and financial assistance. (https://www.turn2us.org.uk/)

OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) – An international organization that provides comparative social and economic policy research. (https://www.oecd.org/)

Flashcards

Refresh your knowledge of key terms with this chapter’s flashcards.

Transfer Payments

a method of transferring money from one group of citizens to another: for instance, taxing those in work and transferring the money raised to the unemployed in the form of unemployment benefits.

Occupational Welfare

types of social support (e.g. health insurance) that are provided by employers, rather than governments.

Mixed Economy of Welfare

the mixture of public, private, voluntary and occupational social provision which characterises many modern welfare states, including that of the UK.

Welfarism

the idea that the government should take some responsibility for the health and well-being of its citizens.

Social Assistance

transfer payments provided to those without any other available means of support.

National insurance

a system of social policy provision where some transfer payments and welfare services are paid for through contributions from employees, employers and government.

Beveridgean Welfare System

a ‘universal’ system of social policy provision which provides transfer payments to all people at the same rate, regardless of their previous economic status.

Bismarckian Welfare System

Group of Labour Party academics who argue that Labour will lack credibility until it has its own ideas for tackling the national deficit.

Internal Market

when an artificial separation between users and providers is invented to try to introduce some of the discipline of the free market into a public service.

Dependency Culture

the growth in the sense of dependence by users on the welfare services.

Liberal Welfare State

a system of social provision where transfer payments are provided only as a last resort to the very worst-off, and are often highly stigmatised.

Workfare

types of welfare provision, typically benefit payments, which cannot be obtained without beneficiaries performing certain actions, typically including searching for work, volunteering and/or undertaking work placements.