Social Policy Digest.

The article presents information on the social policy of Great Britain from February to April 1996. The main topics being social security and income maintenance, health care, education, housing and environment, personal social services, labor market and unemployment, law and the treatment of the offender, local government, voluntary sector, demography, race and gender. The government announced planned cuts in benefit administration costs of 25 percent over the next three years, including a review of the legal basis of decision- making and appeals. The new health authorities, amalgamating Family Health Services Authorities and District Health Authorities, started work on 1 April, 1995. The pilot scheme for parents of four-year-olds to apply for nursery education vouchers in four areas started in April, for implementation in the autumn. Management of the entire local authority housing stock has been handed over to a board of tenants for the first time. Press leaks suggest controversy within the Cabinet over plans to remove employment protection rights from employees of small firms. The government published a White Paper on new sentencing proposals.