conservative led coalition government 2010-2015

Question 1

aims of the coalition

Answer 1

“freedom, fairness and responsibility”
- radical debt reduction policy
- strong society and small state
- lib dem fairness and social mobility

Question 2

modern conservatism

Answer 2

• broken britain campaign
  ^critical of new labours anti-poverty reforms
• poverty reforms
  ^focus on welfare dependency / educational failure / family breakdown
• post financial crisis
  ^criticsed labours debt crisis
  ^debt reducation policy

Question 3

lib dems

Answer 3

• socially liberal third way
  ^critique of labours social justice record
• greater social investment
• proposed to half deficit by 2014/15

Question 4

deficit reduction programme

Answer 4

• return to budget surplus by 2014/2015 (achieved 2017/2019)
• 28% reduction in central govt funding to local govt
• 26% reduction in DWP budget 2015
• 11% reduction in DfE funding 2015
• £20mn savings in NHS budget 2015

Question 5

austerity

Answer 5

• eligibility to benefits reduced
• bedroom tax and benefits cap
• withdrawn youth and family benefits (means tested child benefit)
• generosity and eligibility to tax credits reduced
• reduced funding to services (esp local govt and child services)
• abandoned 2010 child poverty act

Question 6

evaluation of welfare to work scheme

Answer 6

positives
- integrated benefits and welfare to work services (potential to improve access / support)
- beneficial taxation - but limited

negatives
- universal credit reforms - severe benefit cuts
- benefit delays and cuts
- threefold increase in monthly rate of benefit sanctions

Question 7

education reforms evaluation

Answer 7

positives
- pupil premium budget
- public-private-voluntary sector partnerships

negatives
- mixed impact of pupil premium (cutbacks in childrens services)
- academy schools (mixed results - esp for disadvantaged groups)