Think tank for 'liberal conservatism' seeks to develop a policy programme to strengthen the UK safety net that can be supported across the political spectrum
Bright Blue, an 'independent think tank for liberal conservatism', has issued a call for evidence to inform a project exploring the future of social security after Covid-19.
Having recently launched a non-partisan Commission on Social Security Reform, the think tank says it aims to -
'... develop a policy programme which can be supported by public and policymakers from across the political spectrum that will strengthen the UK’s safety net in the long-term.'
To this end, it is conducting a call for written evidence relating to three key categories -
Experience of UK social security reforms since March 2020
- which low-income groups have had the most significant improvements in their financial resilience as a result of the changes to existing benefits since March 2020?
- to what extent did changes to existing benefits address issues that people on low incomes faced before March 2020?
- to what extent have the Job Retention Scheme and the Self-employment Income Support Scheme been effective in preventing people from falling into financially adverse circumstances?
- how do the UK’s social security reforms compare to pandemic responses to protect livelihoods in other developed countries, especially in regard to the generosity of, comprehensiveness of, and eligibility for income-replacement schemes?
Contribution-based social security systems
- to what extent is the current design of the contribution-based new-style jobseeker’s allowance and employment support allowance effective at providing sufficient social security?
- which non-British systems of contributory-based social security are effective in protecting people’s incomes during spells of unemployment?
- what lessons can be learned from the Job Retention Scheme and the Self-employment Income Support Scheme for the implementation of contribution-based social security in the UK?
- what kind of financing models of contributory-based social security are most likely to be fiscally sustainable?
Building popular support for social security systems
- which specific aspects of non-British social security systems, which are not present in the UK, are both popular and effective in their country of origin?
The deadline for submitting evidence is Friday 4 June 2021.
For more information, see Bright Blue opens new call for written evidence on the social security system after COVID-19 from brightblue.org.uk
