A Scottish Government report evaluated Phase 2 of the Community Jobs Scotland (CJS) programme. CJS was a government funded job creation programme to provide young unemployed individuals with paid work and additional training, while supporting the development of third sector organizations. The report said that CJS created good quality and diverse job opportunities, and had received positive feedback and recognition of improvements from Phase 1. The report identified some issues with recruitment, ongoing support, and connections with Local Employability Partnerships, and made recommendations.
Source: Alexander McTier and Alan McGregor, Evaluation of Community Jobs Scotland Phase 2 (2012-2013): Final Report, Scottish Government
Date: 2013-Dec
The coalition government published the 2013 Autumn Statement on the economy and public finances. Growth forecasts for the United Kingdom had been revised upwards by the Office for Budget Responsibility, but the government said that spending needed to continue to be restrained. The statement contained a series of measures that were to be fiscally neutral overall. The measures included:
A cap on overall welfare spending, to exclude the state pension and most cyclical benefits for jobseekers.
A reduction in departmental budgets for 2014-15 (except for the National Health Service, schools, security and intelligence agencies, HMRC, and local authorities).
An increase in the state pension; pensioners and some older workers to be permitted to make additional voluntary national insurance contributions; and an increase in state pension age to 68 in mid 2030s, and then to 69 in late 2040s.
Loans to unblock large housing developments; regeneration of urban housing estates; councils to sell off valuable council housing; working people in social housing to gain priority right to move for work; and Right to Buy to be expanded.
Free school meals for children in reception and Years 1 and 2.
Additional support for 16-17 year olds who had few qualifications to find apprenticeships or traineeships; 18-21 year olds without maths and English skills to be required to train in those subjects (or lose benefits), and to be mandated to take on traineeship, work experience or community service after six months.
Apprenticeship funding to be administered through HMRC; an additional 20,000 higher apprenticeships to be provided over the next two years; and legislation to remove employer national insurance contributions on employees under the age of 21.
30,000 additional higher education places in 2014, with the cap removed in 2015; and additional funding for science, technology and engineering courses – to be financed from the sale of the student loan book.
Married couples to share tax allowance, up to £1000.
Infrastructure spending, set out in the previously published National Infrastructure Plan.
Reduction in energy levies, to be reflected in consumer bills; changes in the pricing structure for wind energy; and tax reliefs for shale gas exploration.
Source: Autumn Statement 2013, Cm 8747, HM Treasury, TSO
Links: Report | Distributional analysis | Policy costings | Data sources | DWP note on pensions | DCLG press release | HMT press release | Northern Ireland Office press release | Scotland Office press release | Scottish government press release | Wales Office press release | Hansard | 4Children press release | Action for Children press release | Age UK press release | ACEVO press release | Barnardo's press release | BBA press release | BCC press release | BMA press release | CBI press release | Children's Society press release | CIH press release | CIPD press release | Citizens Advice press release | Gingerbread press release | Green Party press release | HEFCE press release | IEA press release | IFS briefing documents | JRF press release | LGA press release | London Councils press release | NCB press release | NFA press release | Oxfam press release | Resolution Foundation press release | Russell Group press release | SMF press release | SNP press release | UUK press release | WLGA briefing | BBC report I | BBC report II | BBC report III | BBC report IV | BBC report V | FE News report | Guardian report I | Guardian report II | Guardian report III | Guardian report IV | Guardian report V | Inside Housing report I | Inside Housing report II | Inside Housing report III | Inside Housing report IV | Inside Housing report V | Telegraph report I | Telegraph report II | Telegraph report III | Telegraph report IV
Date: 2013-Dec
A government report outlined the implications of Scottish independence for economic policy choices.
Source: Building Security and Creating Opportunity: Economic policy choices in an independent Scotland, Scottish Government
Links: Report | Summary | Scottish Government press release | BBC report | Telegraph report
Date: 2013-Nov
A think-tank report examined the potential long-run fiscal pressures for an independent Scotland, how these would differ from those facing the United Kingdom, and the size of the fiscal consolidation that might be required to ensure sustainability. It said that there was uncertainty surrounding future borrowing and debt in Scotland, but the analysis suggested that a significant further fiscal tightening would be required beyond that already announced by the United Kingdom government. The report said that these fiscal pressures should be considered alongside any discussions about post-independence restructuring of Scottish taxation and public spending.
Source: Michael Amior, Rowena Crawford, and Gemma Tetlow, Fiscal Sustainability of an Independent Scotland, Institute for Fiscal Studies
Links: Report | IFS press release | Scottish government press release | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2013-Nov
A report outlined proposals for post-independence fiscal rules for Scotland.
Source: Fiscal Rules and Fiscal Commissions, Fiscal Commission Working Group, Scottish Government
Links: Report | Summary | Scottish Government press release | BBC report
Date: 2013-Nov
A report outlined proposals for a post-independence tax system for Scotland.
Source: Principles for a Modern and Efficient Tax System in an Independent Scotland, Fiscal Commission Working Group, Scottish Government
Links: Report | Summary | Scottish Government press release | BBC report
Date: 2013-Nov
A working group report outlined how the fiscal framework of an independent Scotland could be designed to ensure that it took account of the distinct characteristics of oil and gas tax revenues. The report set out how both short and long-term funds could be incorporated into the fiscal framework of an independent Scotland.
Source: Fiscal Commission Working Group, Stabilisation and Savings Funds for Scotland, Scottish Government
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Oct
The Scottish Government published its Draft Budget for 2014-15 and its indicative spending plans for 2015-16. It said that it would provide at least £68 million in each of the two years to mitigate the impact of United Kingdom benefits cuts, and a further £20 million in 2013-14 to limit the impact of the 'bedroom tax'.
Source: Scottish Budget: Draft Budget 2014-15, Scottish Government
Links: Report | Scottish Government press release | SFHA press release | Inside Housing report
Date: 2013-Sep
The interim report of an independent commission in Scotland made a range of recommendations designed to improve young people s transition into employment – including a significantly enhanced focus on high quality vocational education for school pupils.
Source: Commission for Developing Scotland s Young Workforce: Interim Report, Scottish Government
Links: Report | Commission press release | Scottish Government press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2013-Sep
A briefing described the patterns of public services expenditure in Scotland and set out a number of issues for the future. It compared the amount spent with that in the rest of the United Kingdom; examined how the amount spent on different service areas compared with the average for the UK as a whole, and some causes and consequences of these differences; looked at how spending on different public services had changed over time; and discussed the options and issues in public services spending if Scotland were to vote for independence. If the Scottish Government had to deliver a fiscal tightening equivalent to that planned by the UK government, spending cuts or tax rises of about £2.5 billion would be required during the two years from 2016.
Source: Ben Deaner and David Phillips, Government Spending on Public Services in Scotland: Current patterns and future issues, Briefing Note 140, Institute for Fiscal Studies
Links: Briefing Note | IFS press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2013-Sep
An article examined the association between being out of work because of sickness or disability and high mortality, using detailed information from a cohort study in the west of Scotland. It said that the long-term survival prospects of those who were out of work and sick or disabled were considerably poorer than other employment groups.
Source: Frank Popham, Kathryn Skivington, and Michaela Benzeval, 'Why do those out of work because of sickness or disability have a high mortality risk? Evidence from a Scottish cohort', European Journal of Public Health, Volume 23 Number 4
Date: 2013-Aug
An article examined families' experiences of work-life reconciliation from both children's and parents' perspectives, drawing on a qualitative longitudinal study with 14 families in Scotland.
Source: Jeni Harden, Kathryn Backett-Milburn, Alice MacLean, Sarah Cunningham-Burley, and Lynn Jamieson, 'Home and away: constructing family and childhood in the context of working parenthood', Children's Geographies, Volume 11 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jul
A report by a committee of MSPs called on the Scottish Government to set a timetable for the introduction of a statutory right to childcare that included children up to the age of 15 and disabled children. It said that such a move, along with more flexible working patterns, could transform women's access to work.
Source: Women and Work, 4th Report 2013, SP Paper 348, Scottish Parliament Equal Opportunities Committee
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release | SCMA press release | Working Families press release | BBC report | Public Finance report
Date: 2013-Jun
A report by a committee of MSPs expressed disappointment over 'patchy' progress in public services reform, and at a systemic lack of appetite for change among stakeholders, many of whom lacked the can-do attitude needed to drive reform.
Source: Public Services Reform in Scotland: Strand 3 Developing New Ways of Delivering Services, 9th Report 2013, SP Paper 370, Scottish Parliament Local Government and Regeneration Committee
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release
Date: 2013-Jun
The coalition government published an annual report on progress towards the goals contained in the European Union's strategy for sustainable economic growth (Europe 2020). It included an account of action taken on specific problem areas that the EU had identified, including: a poorly functioning housing market; a shortage of the right skills; and a high number of workless households. On poverty and social exclusion, it said that it was creating a new 'welfare system' that was fairer, more affordable, and better able to tackle the causes of poverty, worklessness, and 'welfare dependency'. It was seeking to establish work as the primary route out of poverty, and eradicate child poverty.
Source: Europe 2020: UK National Reform Programme 2013, HM Treasury
Links: Report
See also: Europe 2020: Scottish National Reform Programme 2013, Scottish Government
Date: 2013-Apr
A report by a committee of MPs condemned the blacklisting of workers by construction companies in Scotland, often for raising health and safety concerns.
Source: Blacklisting in Employment: Interim report, Ninth Report (Session 2012-13), HC 1071, House of Commons Scottish Affairs Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | Oral and written evidence | GMB press release | IER press release | STUC press release | BBC report
Date: 2013-Apr
A report by a committee of MSPs said that when people worked fewer hours than they wanted to, or took on jobs that did not utilize all their skills, they were at risk of damaging their earning potential in the long term. Underemployment affected people's long-term opportunities in the same way that unemployment did. The committee expressed concern over the possibility that some recent trends associated with the recession would become permanent, including the use of zero-hours contracts, temporary contracts, self-employment as a replacement for employment, and involuntary part-time working.
Source: Underemployment in Scotland, 6th Report 2013, SP Paper 305, Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release
Date: 2013-Apr
A study examined decision-making by 5 Scottish local authorities in relation to budget cuts due to austerity measures, and how they protected the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. It said that local councils needed to develop more innovative priority-setting in order to help protect such groups.
Source: Darinka Asenova, Stephen Bailey, and Claire McCann, Managing the Social Risks of Public Spending Cuts in Scotland, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date: 2013-Apr
A report said that public finance in Scotland had failed to keep pace with the shift to results-based services elsewhere. Public bodies' systems were still geared towards supporting internal organizational functions rather than policy programmes that had the potential to boost local economies and transform citizens' quality of life.
Source: Public Finances: At the Edge of Chaos and Ready for Outcomes?, Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Scotland
Links: Report | Public Finance report
Date: 2013-Mar
A report by a committee of MSPs examined the impact of an ageing population in a range of areas including health, social care, housing, planning, pensions, and the labour force. It said that radical reform to ensure public services collaborated effectively was needed if Scotland were to cope with its ageing population.
Source: Demographic Change and an Ageing Population, 2nd Report 2013, SP Paper 265, Scottish Parliament Finance Committee
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release
Date: 2013-Feb
A report said that the unrelenting intensity of work generated under new performance management practices was having a 'significantly negative' impact on employees in Scotland. The practices were not justifiable on grounds of welfare, decency, dignity or well-being. They were also counterproductive from a managerial perspective: they required an enormous commitment of resources by middle and front-line management, and served merely to create a deep well of discontent among a highly pressurized workforce.
Source: Phil Taylor, Performance Management and the New Workplace Tyranny, Scottish Trades Union Congress
Links: Report | STUC press release
Date: 2013-Jan
An article examined the impact of austerity in the United Kingdom public finances on the Scottish Government. In response to rising demand for public services and falling revenue expenditure, the Scottish Government had set up the Independent Budget Review in 2010 and Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services in 2011, both of which had reported. As a result of these reports, and a wider push towards an outcomes approach in Scottish policy, Scotland was witnessing a return to place-based policies, or area-based initiatives focused on specific neighbourhoods.
Source: Peter Matthews, 'The return of place in Scottish social policy', Local Economy, Volume 28 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jan
A report (based on a study in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) said that employers should do much more to ensure that an employee s mild illness did not escalate into long-term absence and sickness-related worklessness.
Source: Mark Weston and Julia Manning, Work as a Health Outcome in the Devolved Nations: How Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland tackle sickness-related worklessness, 2020health
Links: Report | 2020 press release
Date: 2013-Jan