Poverty Debate

"Every day, our criminal justice system deals with the consequences of social breakdown. When the same characters - the same individuals - appear in local courts time and time again, we must recognise there is something wrong with the system."
- Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP, will be giving a speech on criminal justice on Monday 2 November 2009.

For details of the event at Canary Wharf, 11am for 11.30am visit our website and RSVP
http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/default.asp?pageRef=394

The CSJ is recruiting an Office Administrator, £20,000 per annum. Closing date for applications is Friday 23 October 2009, 12 noon. For details visit www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/jobs

Benefit shake-up would slash jobless and child poverty, says new CSJ report
www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/publications 

Plans to move 600,000 households off welfare and into work will be unveiled today (September 16) in a major new report from the think-tank set up by the former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith.

The 370-page report, the most far-reaching review of the welfare system in 60 years, estimates that the shake-up will boost the incomes of the lowest paid by nearly £5 billion.

This week, the Scottish Government published their strategy for tackling alcohol abuse. Central to this is the proposal to establish a minimum price per unit of alcohol. This would be accompanied by a ban on ‘irresponsible promotions’ and legislating for a Social Responsibility Fee.

Such pro-activity should be commended. Addiction – both drug and alcohol – is a key driver of poverty. It is also a key driver of crime, violence and anti-social behaviour. Directly and indirectly, it ruins lives, families and communities.

The controversial Channel 4 “Boys and Girls Alone” programme aired this week conducting a ‘social experiment’ to see how children apart from their families would cope without any adult supervision.

But there is evidence of a growing curiosity about children’s ability to cope without family care when it is available. The Channel 4 team are not the only ones conducting a massive social experiment.

This week, for example, the Institute for Education reported that children cared for by grandparents faired worse than those in professional childcare. Assessed on ability to perform in tests, children cared for by their extended family were considered backwards and damaged.