Information Bulletin

Summary of Reports and Statistics from the Week ending 20 March 2015

JRF Activity
Blog from Philly Hare - The #dementiawords we use matter.
Publication - Building Sustainable Homes.
JRF Response to the budget.
Publication - Landscapes of helping: kindliness in neighbourhoods and communities.
Publication Default Reform: Preventing low incomes with an automatic income plan.
Publication - Defined Capability: Pensions, financial capability and decision-making among
retirees.
Blog from Claire Turner Low earners could be left behind in retirement following pensions
shake-up.

Work and Worth

60% of people in Scotland living in relative poverty in 2012/13 were living in severe or
extreme poverty, 740,000 people or 14% of the population, according to a new statistical
report from the Scottish Government. After housing costs, the number rises to 1.2 million or
24% of the population living in severe or extreme poverty.
Policymakers have been hampered by a lack of data and information about what policy
levers make a long-term difference to child poverty, concludes a new report from the Social
Mobility and Child Poverty Commission. It recommends some new principles to help remove
the barriers which prevent data being shared and being used to its full potential.
Even if all those approaching retirement were to annuitise, more than 50% (or 1.1 million
people) will not have an adequate income unless they use other non-pension assets or
receive additional benefits on top of the State Pension, concludes a new report from the
International Longevity Centre Here Today, Gone Tomorrow. 850,000 people who are
about to retire are thought to be particularly at risk of an income shortfall because their
wealth is concentrated in DC savings and they may have limited financial capability.
New research from Oxford University shows that 35% of disadvantaged students, who were
identified as highly able at the age of 11, went on to get three A-levels compared with 60% of
their wealthier peers. Only 33% of the disadvantaged group took one or more A-levels in the
facilitating subjects favoured by universities, compared with 58% of more advantaged
pupils.
An IFS briefing paper analyses how much of the increase in funding per school pupil
between 1999 and 2013 led to higher numbers of teachers and teaching assistants per
pupil. The distribution of school funding and inputs in England: 1993-2013.

The government has accepted the advice of the Low Pay Commission on the headline rate
and young peoples rate for the national minimum wage. From October, the main rate will
rise by 20p to 6.70 an hour and by 17p to 5.30 an hour for 18 to 20-year-olds. The
apprenticeship rate has been raised by 57p per hour to 3.30, higher than the LPC
recommendation of a 7p rise.

Individuals and Relationships

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt launched the Dementia Discovery Fund to support pre-clinical
drug development. The fund will receive investment from the government, Alzheimers
Research UK and pharmaceutical companies.
The final report from the Commission on the Voluntary Sector and Ageing calls on the
voluntary sector to prepare for the ageing population, attracting and retaining talent of every
generation and leading the way in managing ageing in the workplace. Decision Time: Will
the voluntary sector embrace the age of opportunity?

The Place Where People Live

Lifeline not Lifestyle a new report from Heriot-Watt University and End Youth
Homelessness, argues that proposals for removing housing benefit from claimants under the
age of 25 would only save around 3m once the impact of some young people becoming
homeless and having to claim support from other public services is estimated.
The third phase of the Green Deal scheme has been launched this week, with 70 million
more now available to homeowners. 4,700 households have had work done through the
original Green Deal loan scheme, and almost 13,000 through the more recent cash
giveaways.
The number of mortgages lent to first time buyers fell by 14% in January compared to the
same month in 2014, while the number of home mover loans fell by 17%, say the latest
Council of Mortgage Lenders figures.
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is carrying out a survey to gauge the need for new
social housing for rent or part buy/part rent in a range of areas across Northern Ireland.
The Halifax has identified 73 out of 384 local authority Areas where house prices have
increased more than average earnings over the last two years - almost all are in London and
the South East.
DECC has issued a revised Community Energy Strategy which includes more guidance for
communities and local authorities which aims to speed up community energy applications
and 150,000 for a new online Community Energy information Hub for communities

Cross Cutting
The government will need to make unprecedented cuts to achieve its public spending plans,
according to analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies of this weeks budget.
The IFS have made a series of presentations of their post-budget analysis available on their
website.

The Resolution Foundation examines the Chancellors claim that living standards are higher
now than in 2010.

This Information Bulletin is produced on a weekly basis as an update for staff at the Joseph Rowntree
Foundation (JRF) and the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT) for the purposes of their work it is
not intended to be comprehensive but represents a selection of news and reports appearing in the
last week. The items contained in this Bulletin are for information only and do not necessarily reflect
the views of the JRF and JRHT.