General Reports and Other Publications

CO: A report on access to professional careers, published last week by Rt. Hon Alan Milburn, the Independent Reviewer on Social Mobility and Child Poverty, argues that:
* the golden opportunity for a social mobility dividend – as a result of professional job growth – is at risk of being squandered
* there is social engineering at the top of the professions and little evidence of change in social intakes at the bottom
* too little is being done and it is time to dramatically increase efforts
Press release & links ~ CIPD comment
 
AS: In a recent report, ‘The Wages of Sin Taxes’, the Adam Smith Institute condemns the government’s decision to increase taxes on cigarettes and alcohol this year and to introduce minimum alcohol pricing. The report argues that ‘sin taxes’ (taxes on commodities seen as harmful to health) are ineffective in reducing consumption and are not necessary for recouping lost revenue.  The taxes are highly regressive and force the poor to pay for the government’s mishandling of public finances.
Press release & links
 
CBI: The IPPR briefing, The Long View, contributed to by the CBI, stresses the importance of addressing long-term public services reform challenges now. The reports acknowledges the significant current pressure on public spending budgets as a result of the necessary drive to reduce the deficit, but also highlights future pressures, such as the ageing population and potentially lower tax revenues, that are coming down line.
 
The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that on current trends, by 2030, public spending will outstrip revenues, mainly due to health and age-related spending. That is why, the briefing argues, we must have an open debate now about how we respond to these significant pressures, otherwise the UK’s public services will come under an unsustainable squeeze in the coming years.
Press release & links ~ IPPR briefing: The Long View
 
IfG: The government is "not just a bunch of accountants trying to turn around the British economy as if it were a failing company”, the Prime Minister said earlier this month. However, a new report from the Institute for Government, ‘Improving decision making in Whitehall – effective use of management information’, shows better use of accountancy principles at the top of Whitehall would be a good thing.

The report looks at 6 case studies which demonstrated that Whitehall is perfectly capable of using complex information, but that a lack of demand for it in Whitehall, was holding back progress.  Unlike businesses that use MI systematically to drive decision-making, Whitehall uses MI sporadically.  There is still too much of a focus on new policy initiatives rather than driving value for money through the £700bn government spend.
Press release & links
 
Demos: A new report from the think tank Demos recommends housing providers take more radical preventative steps to support social housing tenants – a group highly vulnerable to the economic downturn and cuts to benefits & services.
 
Demos argues that whilst social housing has always been active in providing low level care & support, this has been focused on those with existing needs, rather than those vulnerable to the negative effects of the current economic climate.  By acting to reduce these risks, savings to housing and other public services of up to £49,000 could be made per tenant. 
Press release & links
 
ESRC: Many boys say they would prefer a male ‘befriender’ according to early findings, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).  Yet, less than a quarter of UK volunteer child befrienders are men
 
Researchers suggest that girls, particularly those from lone mother families, could also benefit from a male befriender.  At present, however, the shortage of volunteer male befrienders coupled with concerns voiced by some regarding the appropriateness of such a relationship means girls are rarely matched with men. 
Press release & links
 
BIS: The latest Armed Forces Longitudinal Study report shows that the Royal Navy (RN), Army and Royal Air Force (RAF) have put numeracy & literacy skills at the heart of their development programme for new recruits.  Recruits who join the Armed Forces needing to improve their literacy & numeracy skills are signed up for intensive training programmes which (the report shows) improve their long term career prospects.
 
 The Armed Forces demonstrate how a large employer can play a vital socio-economic role by making their personnel more employable within Service and in subsequent civilian life. Sound speaking & listening skills were regarded as most important and essential for an individual’s operational effectiveness at all ranks.
Press release & links
 
SocitmThe sharing of services, including ICT and other functions, is becoming a necessity for local public services and under current financial pressures, is likely to grow rather than fade away.  This is the key message of Shared services time for a re-think?, a Socitm Insight briefing available now for subscribers to download from this website.
Press release & links
Facing the Future...find out more