governments response to social inequalities

Question 1

National Living Wage

Answer 1

In April 2018 the NLW increased to £7.83 an hour for over 25s
Shows the government has acknowledged a need for a higher wage to ensure low paid jobs are proving sufficient

This policy has also reduced the gap between ethnic minority and white workers as now illegal to discriminate

Trade unions say that a compulsory higher wage had ended the exploitation of workers
showing the effectiveness of the policy as workers are being paid more fairly

NLW does not affect the unemployed but it makes working more attractive as it is a higher amount rather than relying on low benefits

Question 2

Universal Credit

Answer 2

introduced to simplify the benefits system by merging several benefits into one payment
aim of UC is no one is better of claiming benefits than working - encouraging people to work

Ian Duncan Smith, former work and pensions secretary, justified it by saying too many people were trapped on benefits and that UC “makes work pay”
meaning when people come off benefits and move to a job their income will not drop drastically

UC created issues with housing because UC payments are paid directly to claimant’s account meaning they are fully responsible for their rent and expenses
meaning land lords are less likely to trust and rent to UC claimants due to them not knowing how to deal with it

9/10 UC claimants were in rent arrears meaning possibility of homelessness

there has been a 17% increase in referrals to food banks in 2017 in areas where UC has been fully implemented

2017 24% of new claimants waited for longer than 6 weeks for first payment causing build up in debt and need emergency help
Amber Rudd the new work and pensions secretary has acknowledged these problems and announced waiting times have been reduced to three weeks max

Question 3

health inequalities

Answer 3

• free school meals for P1-3s
• 2 hours per week PE lessons
• 50p per unit alcohol wise, and lower drink driving limit
• free prescriptions since 2011

Question 4

gender inequality

Answer 4

• 2018 new legislation forcing companies with 250 + employees to publicly publish their gender pay gap report
• however figures published in 2019 show that 40% of companies now have a wider pay gap than a year ago, meaning this has not yet been successful
• glass ceiling reports, 0% of FSTE 100 CEO’s are women in Scotland,
• Nicola Sturgeon 50:50 cabinet, and campaign ‘50/50 by 2020’