Poverty and inequality are financial challenges for local authorities and threaten the cohesion of their communities.
This briefing deals with the four chapters of the Levelling Up White Paper which profile socio-economic disparities between areas in the UK; sets out a plan for re-configuring government; outlines the policy programme; and indicates what further steps are likely to be taken in the near future.
The next instalment of our early years and childcare round-up focuses on recent research publications and what they show about the state of the sector, including the loss of provision during the pandemic and its impact on young children – especially those from a disadvantaged background.
This Global Local newsletter focuses on global health inequalities. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted and exacerbated health inequalities, significantly impacting many people but also creating a new impetus to address the root causes more comprehensively than before.
Two years since the pandemic started, some groups face better prospects in 2022 but others are mired in deep and persistent poverty, according to the JRF’s latest report. Whilst the direct economic predictions about the pandemic have not materialised, the poorest households face rising inflation, soaring energy costs and tax rises.
Private renting has grown considerably during the past 20 years, along with the problem of how to regulate it. Should it be largely left to tenants to exercise their rights or do local authorities need greater enforcement powers? This briefing examines findings by the National Audit Office.
This briefing explores the ways in which social procurement policy offers local governments a mechanism to close the gap and improve the wellbeing of our First Nations populations.
This briefing summarises the findings of the new Scottish Wellbeing Index, as well as highlighting other data sources, and reviewing the implications they hold for how to best improve wellbeing throughout the population.
The independent review of children’s social care in England has published a new way of looking at the costs of children’s social care. This briefing looks at the research behind the publication.
A national strategy to reduce fuel poverty in Scotland has been unveiled – including tighter regulation of housing and better support for households who face barriers making their homes more energy-efficient. This swift read looks at the key proposals.
In May 2019, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) launched the IFS Deaton Review on Inequality. This briefing deals with the review’s work on gender inequality and focuses on the ‘Women and men at work’ report, published in December 2021.
