Search

Following the confusion that has surrounded the Chancellor's announcement on cuts to child benefit for higher-rate taxpayers, defends the existing benefit as simple, successful and fair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on several issues related to social policy in Great Britain. The Cabinet Office published a report on rural life. A report suggests a nationwide focus on young people, not confined to deprived areas. A study showed the north-south divide widening in the 1990s. The government published revised proposals for assisted areas for European Union funding. Most national insurance benefits increased by 1.1 per cent from April, and most means-tested benefits by 1.6 per cent. In November 1999, there were 3.84 million income support claimants (means-tested jobseeker's allowance claimants shown separately), the same as in August. In August 1999, just over 6 million people of working age (17 per cent) claimed a key benefit, nearly a million fewer than in 1996. The Budget included a cut in the basic income tax rate by 1 penny, to 22 pence, significant increases in lower and upper earnings limits for national insurance contributions, and the extension of the 10 pence income tax rate to savings income.

The article presents information on various social policies in Great Britain. The government is consulting on criteria for regional European Union aid. A task force will examine the denial of financial services to low-income people. All payments from creditor insurance policies will be disregarded for means-tested benefits, if the income is used for the debt. The National Audit Office called for external checks on the Benefits Agency's performance. The pension provision group said the state has an inescapable role in ensuring pensions for people on low incomes. Another official group recommended government funding for pensions education. A European directive safeguards occupational pension rights for people working in different member states. A ministerial group on better government for older people' was created. Some independent financial advisers were disciplined in connection with the pensions mis-selling review. Two reports discuss issues arid options in reforming housing benefit. Benefit cuts for young people are reportedly causing difficulties for rent deposit schemes.

The Social Policy Digest is a major online resource providing up-to-date listings of developments across the whole range of UK and pan-European social policy issues - including links to source materials and commentary. The Digest is published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Social Policy Association. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]