Researchers provided a positive assessment of a pilot scheme under which Jobcentre Plus advisory services were embedded in children's centres in Communities First areas.
Source: Beth Foley, Helen Stevens, and Becci Newton, Evaluation of Jobcentre Plus Advisory Services in Integrated Children's Centres in Communities First Areas, Research Paper 33/2012, Welsh Government
Date: 2012-Oct
An article examined the United Kingdom-wide literature on barriers to work for disabled people. Four main barriers to work among incapacity benefits claimants could be identified: employment practices, employability, health, and policy failure. Qualitative research data from four of the Pathways to Work areas was used to show how these themes applied in Wales. The author indicated ways in which the Welsh Government could provide support in order to reduce the impact of the barriers concerned.
Source: Aimee Grant, 'Barriers to work for incapacity benefit claimants in Wales', Contemporary Wales, Volume 25 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Aug
An article examined the size of the gender pay gap in Wales. It looked at how the gap varied across industries and occupations, and how it had changed over time and in relation to the United Kingdom and other UK nations/regions. In Wales the gap was smaller than in the UK as a whole, and Wales had made greater progress than the UK in closing the gender pay gap since 1996.
Source: David Blackaby, Stephen Drinkwater, Melanie Jones, and Philip Murphy, 'The gender pay gap in Wales in 2011', Contemporary Wales, Volume 25 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Aug
An article examined policy actors' views about the issues, progress, and shortcomings associated with securing age equality in the delivery of public services in Wales. Although the 'citizen voice' model was viewed as being suited to the social and political context of Wales, there were significant barriers to it working effectively for older people.
Source: Ian Jones, 'Effective public service delivery for older people: exploring the views of policy actors in Wales', Contemporary Wales, Volume 25 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Aug
An article said that austerity in Wales had to be understood in the context of the more general budgetary limitations created by the out-dated Barnett formula and the debates in Wales (and Scotland) about the ways in which devolved functions should be funded in the future. It identified the key measures that successive administrations had adopted in support of an essentially Keynesian, counter-cyclical approach to countering recession in Wales.
Source: Mark Drakeford, 'Wales in the age of austerity', Critical Social Policy, Volume 32 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jul
The Welsh Government responded to a report by an Assembly Committee on the financial management of public services in Wales. It said that it accepted all the committee's recommendations.
Source: Welsh Government Response to the Report of the Public Accounts Committee: A Picture of Public Services, Welsh Government
Links: Response
Notes: Report (April 2012)
Date: 2012-Jun
An article examined regional trends in trade union density, focusing on the high levels of union density in Wales. There appeared to be intrinsic differences in the nature of workplace representation in Wales – linked to a particular style of trade unionism, supported by the authority of a devolved state – that continued to contribute to higher levels of membership.
Source: Huw Beynon, Rhys Davies, and Steve Davies, 'Sources of variation in trade union membership across the UK: the case of Wales', Industrial Relations Journal, Volume 43 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-May
A report by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales said that the scale of recent public sector cuts was 'unprecedented'. Although improvements in efficiency had been made, there was a need to build rapidly on the collaboration already achieved, to make further savings, and to mitigate the impact that a reduction in spending would have on service users.
Source: A Picture of Public Services, Public Accounts Committee, National Assembly for Wales
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Apr
A report examined the use of flexible working practices by men in Wales to meet their caring responsibilities.
Source: Stevie Upton, Work-Life Balance for Men in Wales: Capturing the benefits of flexible working, Institute of Welsh Affairs/Chwarae Teg
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Mar