Social Policies And Families

Question 1

Who influenced the conservative government in the 1980s & 1990s?

Answer 1

The New Right.

Question 2

What did the Conservative party policy aim to do?

Answer 2

Strengthen nuclear families by emphasising self-help, trying to save money by reducing welfare benefits.

Question 3

What was the Child Support agency?

Answer 3

The child support agency was established in 1993 to ensure fathers took financial responsibility for their children, this was accompanied by cuts in the value of benefits paid to single mothers.

Question 4

What did Margaret Thatcher describe the family as?

Answer 4

The ‘Building block of society’.

Question 5

What was the married men tax allowance?

Answer 5

The married men tax allowance (who’s wives did not work) encouraged women (mothers) to stay at home.

Question 6

What was Section 28?

Answer 6

Section 28 (1988) prevented local government from promoting homosexuality (including in schools). The conservative government were not just promoting the traditional nuclear family as ideal but denying alternatives.

Question 7

What was Marxists view on the policies made under the conservative government?

Answer 7

Marxists claimed that many policies benefited the bourgeoisie- for example the Child Support Agency would mean that the government could spend less and thus cut taxes for the rich as they could track down the absent father to pay maintenance. However, the Child Support Agency was very expensive for the government in administration costs.

Question 8

Who was Tony Blair’s, 1997-2010: Labour Party Policy, influenced by?

Answer 8

Giddens (late modernist).

Question 9

What was the ‘New Deal’?

Answer 9

The New Deal in 1998 involved policies to support lone parents in moving from dependence on welfare back into employment, by helping with the cost of childcare, training or education. there was an increase in free childcare, with all 3 and 4 year olds guaranteed five half days a week, to enable parents to work.

Question 10

What are some policies recognising family diversity during the period of the Labour Party policy (1997-2010)?

Answer 10

• Civil Partnership act: 2004
• Repeal of Section 28: 2003
• The adoption and children’s act allowed same-sex couples to adopt: 2002

Question 11

What was a ‘Nanny State’?

Answer 11

The New Right were critical that Labour intervened too much in family life, resulting in a ‘Nanny State’ where individuals rely on the generous benefits the government gives, rather than people taking responsibility for themselves and their families.

Question 12

What was the main focus of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition policy (2010-2015)?

Answer 12

The main focus was to cut public spending and reduce the deficit.

Question 13

What did the Conservative Party Manifesto in 2010 do?

Answer 13

The Conservative Party Manifesto in 2010 made a commitment to offer tax benefits for married couples encouraging people to get married.

Question 14

What is meant by ‘Broken Britain’?

Answer 14

Some of the ideas originally developed by the New Right were continued, including concerns about the breakdowns of traditional families values leading to ‘Broken Britain’.

Question 15

What was the Troubled Families Programme?

Answer 15

In 2011, a troubled families programme was developed for families who were seen to have problems and caused problems to the community around them. For example, financial difficulty, anti-social behaviour, overcrowding, poor educational attendance & health concerns.

Question 16

When were same-sex marriages made legal?

Answer 16

In 2014, same-sex marriages were made legal on the same basis as for heterosexual couples.

Question 17

What would feminists argues about these policies?

Answer 17

Feminists argued that policies were counter to improving gender equality. For example, traditional gender roles were reinforced, as women were more likely to take on board the care for elderly relatives and thus were able to work.

Question 18

What was the ‘Married Couples Tax Allowance?

Answer 18

Married Couples Tax Allowance (2015)- The government brought back a tax allowance for married couples with only one member who pays tax. The married couple’s tax allowance applies to all married couples (regardless of gender and sexual orientation) and civili partnerships. It also no longer assumes a traditional housewife role, as someone could be working substantial part-time hours and still not pay income tax, thus their partner would still be eligible for the tax allowance.

Question 19

What happened to the Child Tax Credits in 2017?

Answer 19

Child Tax Credits we’re restricted to two children in 2017. Some suggest this was designed to discourage people on low income from having too many children, although it is also clearly a cost-saving measure.