domestic policies - the new deal Flashcards
what was the new deal?
-term applied to social policies
-new enthusiasm and energy to address issues of social justice through government policy, especially child poverty
-many key policies were masterminded by Brown e.g. Sure Start and minimum wage
-fulfilled the 1997 pledge card by 2001
education:
-‘education, education, education’
-increased funding e.g. per-pupil spending increased by 100%
-mandatory daily literacy and numeracy lessons in primary school
-2000 academies programme (state funded) - some improved results faster than failing schools they replaced but results on the whole were inconsistent
-means tested tuition fees - initially £1k then raised to £3k
-target met to get 50% of people into higher education
winter fuel allowance:
-1997
-for senior citizens
-initially granted £100pp
-but was criticised because it was a universal payment regardless of income - some said it wasted public money
maternity and paternity pay:
-1999 extended maternity leave from 18 to 26 weeks
-2003 introduction of statutory maternity pay for 39 weeks
-2003 introduction of paternity leave - the right for fathers to take 2 weeks paternity leave at full pay
LGBT+ rights:
-repealed section 28 in 2003 - achieved through the local government act - removed the stigma of homosexuality and allowed discussions surrounding it in schools, local councils etc
-2004 civil partnerships act - same sex couples in a partnership were given the same legal rights and protections as a heterosexual couple in a civil marriage
-this was controversial with the public but supported by the tories and the liberal democrats
-2004 gender recognition act - transgender people allowed to change their legal gender - clear example of labour’s socially progressive approach
Sure Start:
-initiative to provide support to families with children under 5
-created ‘one-stop shops’ with a range of services e.g. childcare and early learning
-children who lived within a small distance from a sure start centre performed 0.8 grades better on their GCSES
-targeted at deprived communities, those from poorest backgrounds and those from non-white backgrounds
-increased likelihood of children being recorded as SEND at age 5 but decreased the proportion of kids diagnosed as SEND at ages 11 and 16
-positive impacts were entirely driven by children who lived near centres
inner city regeneration:
-1998 New Deal for communities - targeted deprived urban areas and aimed to improve housing, crime rates etc
-private finance initiatives funded building and renovation of schools hospitals etc - was controversial but helped to regenerate infrastructure in key urban areas
-city growth strategies helped diversify local economies and created new employment opportunities
-skill development and education initiatives e.g. adult learning centres
crime, law and order:
-increased police numbers and anti-social behaviour orders
-fast track justice e.g. street-level police stations
-community policing
NHS:
-significantly boosted NHS spending - nearly doubled by 2007
-strict targets to reduce waiting times - had reduced from 18 months to 18 weeks
-launched NHS direct - 24 hour health service
-more autonomy for hospitals through Foundation Trusts
-public health campaigns e.g. banned smoking in indoor public places 2007
measures to address poverty:
-early intervention through investment in education, social services and youth programmes
-national minimum wage act 1998 - £4.85 for adults, made it so this could be kept in line with the cost of living, immediately raised wages for 1.5million workers
-1998 jobseeker’s allowance - claimants had to show evidence they were actively looking for work, intended to give applicants greater time and flexibility in their search - 2003-2008 = 2.5mil claims
-1997 social exclusion unit set up to address issue of how poverty caused sections of the community to be cut off from main society
