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Equality in a new Scotland. Paul Spicker Aberdeen Festival of Politics, 25 th March 2014. Equality in principle. Poverty: clusters of meaning. Low incomes in Scotland. 2011-12: 710,000 Scots 420,000 Working Age in work 150,000 Children 140,000 Pensioners
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Equality in a new Scotland Paul Spicker Aberdeen Festival of Politics, 25th March 2014
Low incomes in Scotland 2011-12: 710,000 Scots • 420,000 Working Age in work • 150,000 Children • 140,000 Pensioners 280,000 of 570,000 adults and children (49%) are in poverty while in work
Three Scotlandsfrom the Scottish Council Foundation • Scotland’s problems • Mass unemployment • Incapacity among older men • Scotland’s precarious labour market • Geographical dispersion, geographical concentration • The Scottish Government’s response • Preserve existing benefits • Remove barriers to work • Employability • Resilience
Tackling poverty in a new Scotland The Scottish Government A different view Structural responses Basic support Public employment Stable incomes • Focusing on disadvantaged individuals • Personalised support • Holistic services • Government- led The consultative response • Preventative • Bottom-up
Developing a Scottish benefits system • Problems • Established entitlements Pensioners Expatriates • Established costs • Contributory pensions • Means testing • Issues • Social care • Housing policy • Opportunities • Citizens income • Integration with tax • Universalism • Threats • The zero-sum game • The Irish dilemma • Long-term transitions