White paper dated July 2004.

This work asks whether England needs to find its own political voice, following devolution to Scotland and Wales. It explains the different formulations of the 'English question', and sets the answers in a historical and constitutional context.

From one of the leading policy experts of our time, an urgent rethinking of how we can better support each other to thrive Whether we realize it or not, all of us participate in the social contract every day through mutual obligations among our family, community, place of work, and fellow citizens. Caring for others, paying taxes, and benefiting from public services define the social contract that supports and binds us together as a society. Today, however, our social contract has been broken by changing gender roles, technology, new models of work, aging, and the perils of climate change. Minouche Shafik takes us through stages of life we all experience—raising children, getting educated, falling ill, working, growing old—and shows how a reordering of our societies is possible. Drawing on evidence and examples from around the world, she shows how every country can provide citizens with the basics to have a decent life and be able to contribute to society. But we owe each other more than this. A more generous and inclusive society would also share more risks collectively and ask everyone to contribute for as long as they can so that everyone can fulfill their potential. What We Owe Each Other identifies the key elements of a better social contract that recognizes our interdependencies, supports and invests more in each other, and expects more of individuals in return. Powerful, hopeful, and thought-provoking, What We Owe Each Other provides practical solutions to current challenges and demonstrates how we can build a better society—together.

The Budget sets out the Government's plans for taxation, public spending and economic growth for the coming year. Details announced include: an annual growth rate of 2.5 per cent for 2006-07 with a forecast of 2.75 to 3.25 per cent for 2007-08; an inflation rate of two per cent this year; and public sector borrowing on course for a £16bn surplus over the economic cycle ending in 2010-11, with net borrowing set at £37 billion for this year and £36 billion next year, falling to £23 billion in the year to 2010-11. Measures announced in the 2006 Budget include: i) the climate change levy to be indexed in line with inflation from 2007, a new vehicle excise duty rate of £210 for the least fuel efficient cars (4x4 cars or SUVs) and the establishment of a new £1bn energy and environmental research institute funded by government and private industry; ii) measures to help to single parents into work and tackle child poverty including an increase in child benefit, child tax credit and childcare vouchers and a top-up to child trust fund accounts at the age of seven; iii) an increase in duty of nine pence on cigarettes and one pence on beer, with a freeze in duty on whisky and other spirits; iv) the exemption on stamp duty raised to £125,000 and a rise in the level of inheritance tax from £275,000 to £325,000; v) the level of investment in schools to rise from £5.6 billion to £8 billion a year; vi) free off peak national bus travel for pensioners in every part of the country; and vii) funding, in partnership with commercial sponsorship, to support top athletes to prepare for the 2012 Olympics.

Annual report For 2004 : First report of session 2004-05, report, together with appendices and formal Minutes

Designed for use by undergraduates on social policy, social work and sociology courses and by students on vocational training courses (including postgraduate), this textbook covers all the main topics of social policy.