Government Responses To Inequalities Guide

Question 1

Do the UK have high levels of inequality?

Answer 1

The UK has high levels of inequality, specifically in wealth and income.

Question 2

What have the Government done to tackle inequality in the UK?

Answer 2

The UK Government have produced policies to tackle the inequality in the country.

Question 3

What is the sugar tax?

Answer 3

The sugar tax was introduce by Scottish Parliament in 2018 for sugary soft drinks, charging 18p per litre if the drinker exceeded 50f of sugar per litre.

Question 4

How did the sugar tax impact Irn Bru?

Answer 4

Irn Bru changed their recipe and cut the sugar in their drink by over 50% because of this tax.

Question 5

How has the sugar tax positively impacted Scotland’s health?

Answer 5

The price increase has reduced consumption for many consumers and has positively impacted their health as it decreases the chance of developing tooth decay, obesity and diabetes.

Question 6

What is evidence that Scotland has been positively impacted the sugar tax?

Answer 6

Between 2018 and 2020 sales have fell by 34% and then between 2018 and 2023 there has been a 12% decrease in children needing tooth extractions.

Question 7

How are the revenues of sugar tax used?

Answer 7

The revenues from sugar tax are used to fund breakfast clubs and sports in school.

Question 8

Why do breakfast clubs and school sports have such a positive impact?

Answer 8

As the risk of developing health problems decreases, health is being promoted in schools which begins to encourage a healthy lifestyle from early years.

Question 9

Why is the positive impact sugar tax has only to a certain extent?

Answer 9

The sugar tax excludes other sugar drinks such a pure fruit juice and milk based drinks along with sugar foods and so the extents of its impact could be so much more.

Question 10

What is Minimum Unit Pricing?

Answer 10

Minimum Unit Pricing was introduced by the Scottish Parliament in 2018 which is where a minimum of 50p per unit of alcohol is to be charged and has later been raised in 2024 to 65p per unit.

Question 11

Why is Minimum Unit Pricing positive for binge drinkers?

Answer 11

The more expensive alcohol becomes to buy, the harder it is for heavy drinkers to continue with their volume of drinking and therefore reduces their habit or stops them from continuing all together. It can also be a deterrent from people starting in the first place.

Question 12

What impact has Minimum Unit Pricing had on alcoholic beverages?

Answer 12

MUP has increased the pricing of most alcoholic beverages, for example, wine can no longer be sold for less than £6.

Question 13

Why hasn’t Minimum Unit Pricing changed the price every alcoholic beverage?

Answer 13

MUP targets the poor and not the wealthy as they can still afford the prices that exist or were already drinking alcohol which remained unaffected by MUP due to already meeting the price requirements, and this creates an issue as alcohol is a larger issue for the wealthier of society.

Question 14

What is evidence of the positive impact Minimum Unit Pricing has had on Scots?

Answer 14

Since 2018 there has been an 8% fall in sales and therefore illness - there were 411 fewer hospitalisations and 150 fewer deaths.

Question 15

Why could Minimum Unit Pricing be criticised?

Answer 15

MUP does not address the complex causes of addiction and so does not provide sufficient help for alcoholics.

Question 16

What is the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage?

Answer 16

The government sets the National Minimum Wage for under 21s and the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over which is the legal amount an employee is to be paid.

Question 17

Why are the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage so effective?

Answer 17

There are many employers that would pay less if the NMW and NLW did not exist and so it prevent inequality; some employees could be paid up to £6,000 less per year.

Question 18

Who is benefitting from the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage?

Answer 18

75% of those who are benefiting from this are women and BAME individuals which helps to close the gender and race pay gap.

Question 19

Why can the National Minimum Wage be criticised?

Answer 19

There is a different pay set for those under 21 compared to those aged 21 and above and this discriminates young workers as they are paid less for the same amount of work.

Question 20

What contradicts the argument of the National Minimum Wage discriminating against young workers, especially under 18s?

Answer 20

Yet it can be argued that there are some barrier for under 18s during employment as some tasks cannot be completed due to safety hazards and ID verification.

Question 21

Why is the National Living Wage restricted in its efforts?

Answer 21

The National Living Wage set by the government is not enough o keep people out of poverty and does not meet the real ‘Living Wage’ of £12 that was set by the Living Wage Foundation.

Question 22

What is the baby box?

Answer 22

The Baby Box was introduced in 2017 by the Scottish Parliament which is free to newborn parents which includes 40 items costing over £400. It includes things such as sleep suits and a play mat, and on top of this, the box is designed so that a baby can sleep in it.

Question 23

Why is the bay box so beneficial for babies?

Answer 23

The baby box helps to provide an equal start to every baby and helps to improve a babies development when then helps to crunch the attainment gap which begins in early years.

Question 24

Why is the expense of the baby box debated?

Answer 24

The baby box costs the Scottish Parliament £9 million per year so it can be argued that wealthy parents do not need access to this but it only took 0.02% of the 2023/24 budget.

Question 25

Why is the baby box being optional an issue?

Answer 25

The baby box is optional for parents and so does not guarantee an equal start for all children - disadvantaged parents may refuse to help due to feeling uncomfortable or not wanting to feel like they are in need and in the process disadvantage their child.