Health and social policy by topic
Health and social policy includes the following topic areas. Please click the links to access lists of publications by topic:
Coronavirus
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Covid-19 pandemic: impact on people with disabilities
3 December 2021 is the International Day of People with Disabilities. Edward Scott explores the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on people with disabilities in the UK, including issues concerning access to services and the economic impact of the pandemic. This article also summarises the Government’s recent proposals for reform to benefits and employment support for people with disabilities.
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Coronavirus: support for widows
Over 165,000 people in the UK have died due to coronavirus or in cases where it was a contributing factor. Many of these people will have left behind partners. This In Focus looks at the support available to coronavirus widows and widowers in advance of a proposed future debate in the House of Lords.
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Current Affairs Digest: Coronavirus (October 2021)
Catch up on Covid-19 developments with a selection of articles you may have missed. This month we take a look at how the virus first spread, and differences in hospital admission rates between variants.
Education
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Freedom of speech in universities
Discussions regarding freedom of speech in universities have become increasingly prominent in recent years. A Government bill which seeks to “strengthen freedom of speech and academic freedom in higher education” is currently in the House of Commons. Critics of the bill have suggested that there is little evidence to suggest freedom of speech in universities is under threat; an opposition amendment seeking to prevent the bill’s passage was defeated at second reading.
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Initial teacher training: providers market
The usual path into teaching is through initial teacher training (ITT). Successful trainees are awarded Qualified Teaching Status (QTS). As part of its Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy, the Government launched a review of the ITT provider market which looked at training quality and the supply of trainees. This article provides an overview of ITT and outlines the review’s proposals ahead of a House of Lords debate on the matter.
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Report of the Social Mobility Commission: ‘Social Mobility and the Pandemic’
In July 2021, the Social Mobility Commission published its annual state of the nation report. It warned that the UK has struggled with the “damaging impact” of Covid-19 and as a result social mobility which is “already stagnant” could move backwards. This article considers the findings of the report and the Government’s policy on social mobility.
Families and social services
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Current Affairs Digest: Social Policy (October 2021)
Catch up on the latest social policy developments with a selection of articles you may have missed. This month we take a look at the social care levy, and the introduction of road pricing.
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Social care funding: improving the availability of private sector insurance products
When announcing the introduction of a cap on care costs on 7 September 2021, the Government said that it would also be working with the financial services industry to encourage it to provide more products to help individuals cover their care costs. This In Focus discusses that aim, alongside reaction from the financial services sector and committee commentary on the subject.
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Community care for people with learning disabilities and/or autism
Since 2012, successive governments have set targets to reduce the number of people with learning disabilities and/or autism in inpatient settings, in favour of being cared for in the community. However, though progress has been made, to date these targets have not been achieved. Leading in turn to calls for further action and investment, and for funding incentives to ensure those with learning disabilities and/or autism are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
Health
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Covid-19 pandemic: impact on people with disabilities
3 December 2021 is the International Day of People with Disabilities. Edward Scott explores the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on people with disabilities in the UK, including issues concerning access to services and the economic impact of the pandemic. This article also summarises the Government’s recent proposals for reform to benefits and employment support for people with disabilities.
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All Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia report
The Conservative Party manifesto for the 2019 general election pledged that finding a cure for dementia would be one of the Government’s biggest priorities. To this end, the manifesto committed to doubling dementia research funding and speeding up trials for new treatments. In a report published in September 2021, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia made a central recommendation that the Government should implement its funding pledge as soon as possible.
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Coroners (Determination of Suicide) Bill [HL]
This private member’s bill would enable a coroner to record gambling addiction as a relevant factor to a death by suicide. Currently, data on the correlation between problem gambling and deaths by suicide remains limited. Public Health England’s recent evidence review on gambling-related harms concluded that problem gambling should be deemed a public health issue. The bill will receive its second reading in the House of Lords on 19 November 2021.
![Coroners (Determination of Suicide) Bill [HL]](https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/content/uploads/sites/2/2021/11/steve-sawusch-PLfpXxZ9r9A-unsplash-1232x924.jpg)
Housing
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Leaseholders: fire and building safety
Following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, survey work has revealed that dangerous cladding was also present on other residential tower blocks. The Government has announced funding to help pay for remedial work. However, politicians and campaigners have expressed concern that the funding does not cover all fire safety defects and that leaseholders are being sent bills by building owners to cover costs of fire safety work, potentially leading to financial hardship and significant stress.
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Cost of living: housing affordability
This article discusses the potential impact of the end of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the removal of the temporary uplift to the standard allowance of Universal Credit and the rise in fuel prices on the cost of living and on people’s ability to pay their monthly mortgage and rental payments. It also examines recent commentary on the subject.
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Housing developments on functional flood plains
Around 5.2 million properties in England are at risk from flooding. The Environment Agency has said that if current planning outcomes continue, this number could double in the next 50 years. The Government has recently consulted on proposals to change England’s planning policies to better respond to flood risks. The House of Commons environment committee and the Royal Institute of British Architects have raised concerns over the Government’s current planning framework.
Welfare and pensions
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Covid-19 pandemic: impact on people with disabilities
3 December 2021 is the International Day of People with Disabilities. Edward Scott explores the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on people with disabilities in the UK, including issues concerning access to services and the economic impact of the pandemic. This article also summarises the Government’s recent proposals for reform to benefits and employment support for people with disabilities.
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Coronavirus: support for widows
Over 165,000 people in the UK have died due to coronavirus or in cases where it was a contributing factor. Many of these people will have left behind partners. This In Focus looks at the support available to coronavirus widows and widowers in advance of a proposed future debate in the House of Lords.
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Report of the Social Mobility Commission: ‘Social Mobility and the Pandemic’
In July 2021, the Social Mobility Commission published its annual state of the nation report. It warned that the UK has struggled with the “damaging impact” of Covid-19 and as a result social mobility which is “already stagnant” could move backwards. This article considers the findings of the report and the Government’s policy on social mobility.
