British Social Attitudes 29 Public attitudes towards welfare - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

British Social Attitudes 29

Public attitudes towards welfare

December 2012

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Contents

 Some background about BSA  Key findings on welfare

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British Social Attitudes

 Random sample of 3,000+ adults in Great Britain  Focus on repeating questions annually  New questions developed to explore emerging issues  Challenge of measuring attitudes across the public  Major focus on dissemination  BSA29 published in September, www.bsa-29.natcen.ac.uk  Data deposited at UK Data Archive

Key findings on welfare

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10 20 30 40 50 60 70 1 9 8 3 1 9 8 5 1 9 8 7 1 9 9 1 9 9 3 1 9 9 5 1 9 9 7 1 9 9 9 2 1 2 3 2 5 2 7 2 9 2 1 1

%

Reduce taxes/spend less Keep taxes/spend same Increase taxes/spend more

Attitudes to taxation and spending

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First and second priorities for extra government spending

Health, 68 Education, 61 Roads, 6 Police and prisons, 15 Housing, 14 Help for industry, 12 Defence, 10 Public transport, 6 Social security, 4 O verseas aid, 2

%

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20 40 60 80

'83 '84 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11

Declining support for more spending

• n welfare benefits

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20 40 60 80

'83 '84 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11

Declining support for redistribution

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20 40 60 80

'83 '84 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11

Increasing scepticism about impact

• f benefits on recipients

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20 40 60 80

'83 '84 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11

Increasing scepticism about impact

• f benefits on recipients

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20 40 60 80

'98 '99 '02 '04 '06 '08 '11

Some benefit recipients are seen as ‘more deserving’

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But government still seen as responsible for welfare

59% 52% 88% 84% 33% 35% 6% 7% E nsuring unem ployed have enough to live

• n

E nsuring people have enough to live on in retirem ent P aying for cost of healthcare when som eone ill E nsuring people have enough to live on if becom e sick / disabled

Government Individuals / families

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Child poverty

 36% “quite a lot” and 43% “some” child poverty in

Britain (2009); 18% none/very little.

 Important to reduce child poverty, 82% think this “very

important”

 Central govt plays a key role - 74% think central

government should be responsible for reducing child poverty

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Why children live in poverty

68% 62% 49% 50% 43% 48% 44% 16% 17% 7% 10% 9% 7% 3% Addiction Parents don't want to work Family breakdown Low education Low pay Unemployment Family size

A reason Main reason

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Summary

 Trend towards more public scepticism about welfare

 From mid 1990s onwards  Less support for government role in providing support to

unemployed and retired

 Increasing belief welfare system encourages dependence  Attitudes haven’t responded to the recession as we might have

expected

 The alleviation of child poverty seen as important

 Clear role for government  Congruence between public attitudes and diagnosis of current

government

15 Alison Park

• T. 020 7549 7072
• E. alison.park@natcen.ac.uk

Visit us online: www.natcen.ac.uk View British Social Attitudes data at: http://www.britsocat.com/Home

Thank you

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Improving the benefits system – the public’s priorities

33% 18% 14% 13% 12% 6% 3% 53% 37% 26% 32% 26% 14% 7% Targeting benefits only at those who really need them Rewarding those who work or look for work Making sure those who are entitled to money claim it Reducing fraud Making sure those who save are not penalised Providing benefits for those who cannot work Making sure payments are fast and accurate

1st priority 1st or 2nd priority