All too often people in this country feel that if you put in and contribute, you get less than your fair share. We all support a welfare state, but it has to ensure that those who look after themselves and families are rewarded not penalised, and this is at the heart of our welfare work.
Choosing to be different: Women, work and the family
In this report, Jill Kirby examines the extent to which female outcomes in work are driven by rational preferences, as opposed to barriers for progression.
Broken Hearts: family decline and the consequences for society
In this paper, Jill Kirby explores the current evidence on family breakdown in the UK, and its effects both for the taxpayer and the good of society.
Welcome to the Asylum: Immigration and Asylum in the UK
Our immigration policy is an exercise in wishful thinking. We pretend that we control our borders when we have lost all control. We pretend we act humanely to asylum seekers when we do everything possible to prevent them arriving here legally then behave as if they barely exist or waste their talents. We need a fair, transparent and humane immigration policy. What is happening now is neither fair nor humane and certainly not transparent. Nor does it constitute a policy, either restrictive or open.
A Raw Deal for Lone Parents: Evaluating the Evidence
Gordon brown announced the New Deal for Lone Parents in his July 1997 Budget. Harriet Harman, then Secretary of State for Social Security, claimed ‘nearly all lone parents want to work… They want to work, not despite their children, but because of them’… we will hope lone mothers get off benefit and into work’.
The Four Failures of the New Deal
MP for Ashford, Damian Green investigates one of New Labour’s flagship policies – the New Deal work programme – and finds how it is damaging to both the unemployed and business.
Privitise the Prosecutors: Efficiency and Justice in the Criminal Courts
In 1985, the Conservative government created the Crown Prosecution Service. Unlike other state-administered services the CPS was not intended to further Utopian ideals of equality and social justice, nor to harmonise one area of public service provision with others.
Towards an Employee’s Charter
After more than ten years of employment law reform it is not surprising that some are now calling for a halt to the process. But the government have refused to listen to these siren voices and instead have recently recommended further changes in their Green Paper Industrial Relations in the 1990s.
The Importance of Parenting
My topic – the quality of parenting – is an emotional minefield. But when deficient it underlies many problems and caused much misery.
Rewards of Parenthood
Some Conservatives say that since, under God people procreate voluntarily then children are matters of consumer choice: and that the costs of rearing them should be the responsibility of their parents.
Returning to Work: New Directions for the Restart Scheme
Restart was introduced in 1986 by the Manpower Services Commission, during Lord Young’s term as Secretary of State for Employment. The Purpose of the scheme (which now comes under the employment service) is to reduce long-term unemployment: by providing information, individual counselling, and help with making new beginnings.
The Egalitarian Conceit
For two centuries, ever since the revolution of 1789, Europe has been haunted by the spectre of egalitarianism. Yet the pursuit of equality has benefited precious few.
Planning Planning
The Government is pledged to remove constraints on the operation and expansion of businesses and to encourage the spread of home ownership; indeed, these pledges are central to its economic policies.
Pensions & Privilege
The number of shareholders in Britain has grown dramatically in the last five years, but the proportion of equities held by individuals continues to decline.
Making Unionism Positive
The last General Election produced one of the worst results ever for the Conservative party in Schotland.
Home Truths for Foreign Aid
The present Government has embarked on a programme to reshape Britain – its institutions, the attitudes of its society and the aspirations of its individual citizens.
Privatise Power
Britain’s electricity supply industry is on the verge of a programme of heavy capital expenditure, to fill a supply gap forecast to widen rapidly in the early years of the next decade.
