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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 the developments in the social policy of Great Britain from November 1996 to January 1997. In the Budget, personal tax allowances were raised in real terms, the 20 pence tax band was extended, and the basic tax rate cut from 25 to 24 percent. Treasury figures show a tax burden of 35.1 per cent in 1997-98 for a married couple with two children and one earner on average male earn compared with 32.2 per cent in 1978-79. Plans were announced to align the rules on backdating for most benefits and place more responsibility on claimants of income support and jobseeker's allowance to produce evidence to verify claims. Changes to war pensions were modified after protests about their implications. But the Royal British Legion is still urging the government to withdraw restrictions on claims for deafness. Two reports on disability working allowance show that it has only helped about 1,000 people into employment, with most disabled people wanting full-time work paying proper wages. A National Consumer Council report assesses information about continuing care given by fifteen health authorities, and recommends some guidelines.