3b. The role of the government Flashcards
What was government spending in 2016 + what was it on?
£760 billion 12% on education 18% on healthcare 20% on pensions 15% on welfare
What methods can be used to tackle social and economic inequalities?
Subsidies Planning Education Law Taxation Pensions Health care Rural services
Describe subsidies:
Granted to the poorest groups
- Children may receive free school meals, clothing allowances, free tuition fees
Pensioners may get subsidies for fuel and transport
Low-wage earners and unemployed are entitled to benefits
Describe planning:
Governments, charities and housing agencies give priority to upgrading services and housing in deprived areas
Describe education:
Government provides funding to raise skill levels and qualifications, improve employment and boost the economy
Education programmes also introduced eg diet, obesity, smoking
Describe law:
Legislation prevents discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnicity, gender and age
Poor groups of workers protected by minimum wage
Describe taxation:
Income tax helps redistribute wealth
Essential items exempt from VAT so that poorest people (who spend large proportion of money on food) are not disadvantaged
Describe pensions:
Spending on pensions in UK has doubled in past 12 years - sampled by ageing population
Poorest members of society rely on state pensions
Wealthy people can also claim an occupation pension which provide extra income
Describe health care:
NHS is ‘free at the point of delivery’ - payed for through tax
Language and cultural barriers have been obstacles in accessing health care for migrants
Groups eg Somali and South Asian have fears about immunisation which particularly affects children so literature produced in alternative languages is produced to educate these groups
Describe rural services:
Key settlement policy - a rural settlement where services are concentrated to meet thresholds that will ensure their economic viability
