The 20th edition of British Social Attitudes was published. Support for raising taxes to spend more on health, education and social benefits was found to have nearly doubled over the period 1983-2003, from 32 per cent to 63 per cent: but young people were increasingly less supportive of the welfare state than their elders. People were less satisfied with the National Health Service than they were in 1983. People felt that there should be more students from working-class backgrounds in higher education. Attitudes towards working mothers had become more positive, and racial prejudice had gradually declined. (The survey has been conducted annually since 1983. Each survey consists of over 3,000 interviews with a representative, random sample of people in Great Britain.)
Source: Alison Park, John Curtice, Katarina Thomson, Lindsey Jarvis, and Catherine Bromley (eds.), British Social Attitudes: The 20th Report, SAGE Publications Ltd (020 7324 8500)
Links: NatCen press release (pdf) | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2003-Dec
The government published advice for central and local government agencies on how to build community cohesion principles into area-based initiatives.
Source: Community Cohesion Advice for those Designing, Developing and Delivering Area Based Initiatives (ABIs) Building cohesion into regeneration and renewal, Home Office (020 7035 5479) and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Links: Advice (pdf) | Home Office press release
Date: 2003-Dec
The Muslim community reacted with 'shock and dismay' to planned comments by a minister (Denis MacShane MP), in which he called on British Muslims to choose between the 'British way' of political dialogue and non-violence and the 'way of the terrorists'. (The speech was amended before being delivered.)
Source: Press release 22 November 2003, Muslim Council of Britain (020 8432 0585)
Links: MCB press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Nov
A report discussed the way Christians had colluded with the racial stereotyping of groups of people, and the steps that had been taken in an effort to eradicate racism.
Source: Redeeming the Time, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (020 7523 2121)
Links: CTBI press release
Date: 2003-Nov
A report summarised the proceedings of a conference held in 2002, at which participants were given an opportunity to influence the government's agenda by directly tackling issues of particular concern to the Community Cohesion Unit at the Home Office.
Source: Developing Community Cohesion: Understanding the issues, delivering solutions, Runnymede Trust (020 7377 9222)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Sep
A paper examined the contribution of the social landlord function to the objectives of community cohesion.
Source: David Robinson, Delivering Housing Services to Support Community Cohesion, Chartered Institute of Housing (024 7685 1700)
Links: Paper (pdf) | People for Action press release
Date: 2003-Aug
The government published a guide to help local agencies build a detailed picture of the cohesiveness of their communities, and monitor progress. It set out ten core 'community cohesion indicators' using local data such as residents surveys, exam results and unemployment figures: it said these reflected the key elements defining a cohesive community and would help local authorities build strong integrated communities.
Source: Building a Picture of Community Cohesion: Guide for local authorities and their partners, Community Cohesion Unit/Home Office (020 7035 5471)
Links: Guide (pdf) | Home Office press release
Date: 2003-Jul