The Week, 21 September 2018
This week the Social Metrics Commission published a new measurement of poverty for Britain. It is a significant step as previously there was no agreed metric. The proposed metric goes beyond income to look at spending power and liquid assets.
Eleonora Harwich, Director of Research and Head Digital and Tech Innovation, Reform
Reformer of the week
The Social Metrics Commission for launching a new measure of poverty in the UK.
Good week for…
Social housing
On Tuesday, Theresa May MP, announced plans to ease the housing crisis with extra funding being allocated to housing associations.
Joined-up services
On Thursday, it was reported that Hackney Council is building a real-time data-sharing platform for patients being discharged from hospitals to social services to ensure service continuity.
Bad week for…
Child poverty
On Monday, it was reported that England shows the highest child poverty levels in the UK, close to 33 per cent.
Transparency
On Friday, it was reported that universities are making misleading claims on their websites in an attempt to attract students.
Quotes of the week
“The fact that Britain is home to so many new, innovative businesses is something to be proud of. But the fact that so few of them are started by women is shocking. This is not because of a lack of talent or appetite.”
Robert Jenrick, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, on Thursday.
“The private sector has a role to play, but it cannot be a panacea for the challenges government faces in providing great public services nor the default response to austerity. The public sector must become much more discerning about where it seeks private-sector involvement, and which companies it chooses to partner with.”
Lord Kerslake, former head of the civil service, on Friday.
Reform’s week
Reformer Blog
On Wednesday, Paul Hackett, Chair of the G15 group, wrote a blog highlighting new thinking on social housing. This is part of our blog series on housing.
Events
On Monday, Reform hosted a Partners Breakfast with Chris Skidmore MP, Vice Chairman for Policy, Conservative Party, on ‘Delivering for the future: reforming the policy making process’.
Upcoming Events
On Monday, Reform will hold two events at the Labour Party conference.
The first will be with The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Chair of the Exiting the European Union Select Committee, on ‘The UK economy and Brexit’.
The second will be with Darren Jones MP, Member of the Science and Technology Select Committee and Annemarie Naylor, Director of Policy at Future Care Capital on ‘Making NHS data work for everyone’.