The government reaffirmed its commitment to reporting progress towards sustainable development, particularly through the annual set of indicators on quality of life published since 1999.
Source: The Government s Response to the Environmental Audit Committee Fourth Report (2001-02): Measuring the Quality of Life - The 2001 Sustainable Development Headline Indicators, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response (pdf) | MPs report
Date: 2002-Nov
A new book presented a psychosocial examination of the changing relationships between users of services, professionals and managers in the welfare state, and challenged the current emphasis on consumer rights.
Source: Lynn Froggett, Love, Hate and Welfare: Psychosocial approaches to policy and practice, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Oct
A survey found a high level of awareness among local authorities of the official 'quality of life indicators', and a widespread belief that these indicators will be helpful in developing local partnerships.
Source: Quality of Life Indicators: A survey of pilots and non-pilots, Research Briefing 18, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2002-Oct
A study examined how measures might be applied to judge whether communities are flourishing. It proposed a set of 16 factors which together might indicate the state of community life in a particular area.
Source: Gabriel Chanan, Measures of Community, Community Development Foundation (020 7226 5375) and Active Community Unit/Home Office
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 4.6
Date: 2002-Oct
A comprehensive report was published on the state of children in the United Kingdom. It found that in 2000-01 just under a third of children were living in relative poverty; that child poverty had increased more than threefold in the previous 20 years; and that the highest rate of increase in chronic ill health was among children: however, most young people were achieving better qualifications at school and fewer were leaving with no qualifications. 'Striking disparities' were found between different parts of the UK.
Source: Jonathan Bradshaw (ed.), The Well-being of Children in the UK, Save the Children, available from Plymbridge Distributors Ltd (01725 202301)
Links: Summary (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
An audit report described a pilot project to develop a set of quality of life indicators, involving more than 90 local authorities.
Source: Quality of Life: Using Quality of Life Indicators, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report
Date: 2002-Sep
A new annual compendium of healthcare statistics charted trends in spending on health, provision of healthcare services, and life expectancy and mortality. The author reportedly warned that the government is in danger of wasting billions of pounds by increasing spending on the National Health Service too quickly.
Source: Peter Yuen, Compendium of Health Statistics (14th edition), Office of Health Economics (020 7930 9203) | The Guardian, 26.9.02
Links: Summary | Guardian report
Date: 2002-Sep
Five out of six people regard their quality of life as fairly or very good, according to an official annual survey. Money, health, and crime are the three most common factors affecting people s perceived quality of life.
Source: Press release 26.7.02, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (08459 335577)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Jul
A committee of MPs said that official 'quality of life' indicators under-emphasise lack of progress on environmental issues.
Source: Measuring the Quality of Life: The 2001 Sustainable Development Headline Indicators, Fourth Report (Session 2001-02), HC824, House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Jul
A pamphlet argued that a strong welfare state is incompatible with a vigorous civil society.
Source: Kenneth Minogue, Civil Society and David Blunkett: Lawyers vs. Politicians, Civitas (020 7401 5470)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Jul
Official data was published on quality of life indicators, analysed by region (England, 2001).
Source: Regional Quality of Life Counts - 2001, 2nd edition: Regional versions of the national headline indicators of sustainable development, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (08459 556000) and Office for National Statistics
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124 (paragraph 4.7)
Date: 2002-Jun
A collection of essays examined issues facing people from birth to death, including poverty and disengagement from society.
Source: J. Lotherington (ed.), The Seven Ages of Life, Centre for Reform (020 7222 5121)
Links: Observer article
Date: 2002-May