The Government has
swiftly tackled the social impacts of the economic downturn by
building on lessons from past recessions, according to a new
report from the Social Exclusion Task Force.
"Learning from the Past: Tackling worklessness and the
social impacts of the recession" argues that beating the
social impacts of recession is crucial in preventing the downward
spiral into long-term worklessness that the country has seen in
the past.
The Social Exclusion Task Force report outlines how previous
recessions have resulted in not just rising unemployment, but also
increases in crime, mental health problems and family and
relationship breakdown. It highlights the social impacts of
previous recessions and how this time round despite steeper falls
in GDP, labour market effects have been less severe than in the
past. It also sets out what a 'Total Place'
approach to worklessness and the social impacts of the recession
would look like.
The Government has taken direct action to limit the recession
through programmes such as Real Help Now. It took measures to
protect people's savings and prevent the collapse of the
banking sector, offered mortgage support and protection, and gave
a guarantee to help all young people find work.
In response to the challenges of the recession, the Government
has now introduced an additional package of measures to tackle the
'social wave' of recession including:
- A new White Paper, Building Britain's Recovery:
Achieving Full Employment, setting out a bold vision for the
future
- An additional £40 million for the 61 Working
Neighbourhoods Fund hotspot areas
Angela Smith, Minister for Social Exclusion said
"Tackling the social impacts of recession demonstrates
how the global financial crisis of 2008 and the recession that
followed have had far reaching impacts. The Government has
responded robustly to the needs of the many and recognises that
this is no time for complacency.
"All sections of society have been battling the effects
of the current recession and no area has been immune. In the face
of global recession the Government has acted with determination to
support businesses, protect jobs and stimulate recovery.
"It is paramount that we act to mitigate the wider
social impact of recessions, which has previously had a
devastating impact on families and communities."
"Learning from the Past: Tackling worklessness and the
social impacts of the recession" was published alongside
an evidence pack setting out the data related to the past and
current economic context.
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