Consider the Impact Different Government’s Welfare Policies Have Had on Poverty in the Uk, in Relation to Children and Young People.
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Consider the impact different Government’s welfare policies have had on poverty in the UK, in relation to Children and young people.
In March 1999, Tony Blair made a speech about poverty (Dorman 2004: nd) he said “our historic aim will be for ours to be the first generation to end child poverty and it will take a generation. It is a twenty year mission but I believe it can be done.” This essay will define the word poverty and look at the history of welfare reform. It will discuss the three different government ideologies towards welfare and the state since 1979. How Margaret Thatcher believed cutting benefits, forcing people to work, would help the economy. It will discuss how Labour’s policies were committed to the eradication of child poverty, by supporting low income families by financial means and placing services into disadvantaged communities. How the Coalition Government has reduced family’s benefits and its future plans for welfare reform, and how changes in policies have impacted on children’s and young people’s poverty.
There are two definitions of poverty; absolute poverty which is a standard set by numerous countries doesn’t change and is based on a fixed income threshold. Where a person’s income doesn’t match what is needed such as food, clothing and shelter to survive. Relative poverty is worked out against the poverty line of sixty per cent of the average UK income. (Poverty Action Group 2012: 1) It is where a person has a low income and a poor standard of living and though they have enough money for basic necessities, there is no money left over for luxuries.
The Welfare State originated from the Poor Law Act 1834, where poor people were put into workhouses and had to work in exchange for food and somewhere to live (O’Brien and Penn 1998:21). The belief was that everyone had the freedom to make choices and all the state needed to do was to help the really destitute. Studies by Booth and Rowntree in the twentieth century showed that poverty...
In March 1999, Tony Blair made a speech about poverty (Dorman 2004: nd) he said “our historic aim will be for ours to be the first generation to end child poverty and it will take a generation. It is a twenty year mission but I believe it can be done.” This essay will define the word poverty and look at the history of welfare reform. It will discuss the three different government ideologies towards welfare and the state since 1979. How Margaret Thatcher believed cutting benefits, forcing people to work, would help the economy. It will discuss how Labour’s policies were committed to the eradication of child poverty, by supporting low income families by financial means and placing services into disadvantaged communities. How the Coalition Government has reduced family’s benefits and its future plans for welfare reform, and how changes in policies have impacted on children’s and young people’s poverty.
There are two definitions of poverty; absolute poverty which is a standard set by numerous countries doesn’t change and is based on a fixed income threshold. Where a person’s income doesn’t match what is needed such as food, clothing and shelter to survive. Relative poverty is worked out against the poverty line of sixty per cent of the average UK income. (Poverty Action Group 2012: 1) It is where a person has a low income and a poor standard of living and though they have enough money for basic necessities, there is no money left over for luxuries.
The Welfare State originated from the Poor Law Act 1834, where poor people were put into workhouses and had to work in exchange for food and somewhere to live (O’Brien and Penn 1998:21). The belief was that everyone had the freedom to make choices and all the state needed to do was to help the really destitute. Studies by Booth and Rowntree in the twentieth century showed that poverty...