Social/domestic Policy Flashcards
What political policy was continued despite controversy
-policy of privatisation continued
-confirming feeling cons gov prone to crisis
How was privatisation continued
-coal Ind privatised 1994
-railways privatised 1996
-attempted privatise post office but opposition + abandoned scheme due to public concerns
What else occurred with privatisation
-Major introduce private finance initiative
What was the private finance initiative
-public-private partnerships that meant private companies would fund infrastructure improvements + then deliver public services the state would pay for over contract length
What did Major introduce in 1991
-citizens charter to give public service users more power over quality of services
How would the gov do this with the citizens charter
-provide information about the standards they should expect with their services
-hold public service providers to account + encourage higher standers of deliver
What is an example of this
-in education more testing + schools publish results
-‘charter marks’ for higher performing services as incentive for more improvements
What is example of the response to the citizens charter
-cones hotline — phone motorists called if motorway lanes closed with no sign
-subject to Mich satire e.g. Steve Bell cartoonist portraying Major with cone up backside calling the hotline
What happened regarding pit closures
-pit closures continued under major
-1991 Heseltine announced closure of 31 pits in Nottinghamshire
What was the reaction to these pit closures in Nottinghamshire
-seen as a poor reward by cons remembering Nottinghamshire miners stood against Scargill
-outcry forced Heseltine into u-turn but closures eventually went ahead
How did major reform tax in 1991
-axed the hated poll tax
-replaced it with council tax
What was the council tax
-properties assessed on value according to what house would be worth in 1981
-then grouped into bands e.g. group B over 40k + up to 52k increasing with each band
What was the response to the council tax
-no tax ever popular but this seemed a better alternative to rates which many did not have to pay + poll tax which many could not afford
What other policy was announced in 1993
-the national lottery - gov promoted initiative, private company
-created large revenue for br
What was the national lottery
-ticked costs paid for prizes, costs + profits of the administrators
-large sums donated to arts, heritage, sports + other ‘good causes’
What were the benefits of the national lottery
-billions in profit each year given to charities
-could apply for national lottery grants - used to improve school facilities etc.
What new campaign was launched in response to Major’s speech at a party conference
-back to basics campaign 1993
-where he advocated a return to ‘old values, neighbourliness, decency, courtesy’ and to ‘self-discipline’, ‘respect for the law’ + ‘consideration for others’
What was the underlying tone in this speech
-tone of Christian values with string focus on tackling crime
How was back to basics received
-ridiculed by the press such as liberal paper the guardian
-labelled as an attack on single mothers + homosexual families
-hypocritical
What was the policy on crime and punishment encompassed in this back to basics
-tougher stance on crime and punishment
What was this known as and who was it introduced by
-known as ‘prison works’
-introduced by Heseltine as home sec
What did ‘prison works’ entail
-number of custodial sentences increased
-prison populations grew
What was the BSE crisis
-‘mad cow disease’ recognised as threat to human health in 1996
-led to br beef being banned in Europe + thousands livestock destroyed
