Location: Room 1.60, Edinburgh Futures Institute, University of Edinburgh

Studies of UK social policies that fail to understand the multi-level competencies and policy differences may contribute to creating a ‘scalar fallacy’ of a single and unified UK welfare state (Pearce and Laguna, 2023). Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all have long histories of policy divergences, uneven responsibilities, and competing “welfare imaginaries” (Wiggan, 2017), particularly in the context of employment and social security. Furthermore, over the past decade the provision of centrally designed welfare services has been replaced by “a new, localised social security terrain” (Hick, 2022; 269). This has led to the creation of new (or advancement of existing) subnational policy communities and systems (Keating, 2014).

The rescaling of these policy areas is set to intensify: the UK’s new Labour government has promised a “devolution revolution”, giving more power to local government to make decisions about economic growth, transport, and employment support. This includes the English Devolution Bill promises substantial local government reform and a commitment to increase mayoral powers in certain policy areas. Some argue that such devolution could lead to more innovative approaches that reflect differing economic and social pressures across the UK. Others however, note that subnational and localised anti-poverty policies are geographically uneven and susceptible to changeable intergovernmental relations. Social policy scholars may also be concerned about ‘localized social risks’ of labour market insecurity, work-care balance, long-term care needs, and poverty and financial insecurity (Ranci and Maestripieri 2022; 24). This workshop therefore brings together researchers whose work provides insights into the scale and nature of UK welfare rescaling by examining sub-national, devolved and local policies and practices. The workshop will share research findings, stimulate discussion, and consider social policy futures.

Speakers:

The worskshop will be led by Dr Hayley Bennett, University of Edinburgh, and Safety Nets Co-I

Confirmed speakers include:

Dr Elke Heins, University of Edinburgh. ‘The diversity of skill formation systems within a devolved United Kingdom’
Dr Sioned Pearce, Cardiff University. ‘Sub-state comparisons of approaches to address youth unemployment in England, Scotland, and Wales’
Prof Ann Marie Grey and Dr Alex Chapman, Ulster University ‘Care crisis and employment; potential for sub-national solutions?
Dr Jed Meers, University of York, ‘The complexities of local welfare assistance: variations in design and delivery’
Prof Rod Hick, Cardiff University ‘A localised social security terrain: potentials and pitfalls’
Prof John Hudson, University of York ‘Rise of Mayoral regions in England and spatial welfare’
A panel including Prof Michael Keating (Emeritus Prof, University of Aberdeen and former CCC Director), Prof Ruth Patrick, (University of York, and Safety Nets PI), and Alex Clegg (Resolution Foundation)

This event is a collaboration between the Centre for Constitutional Change (CCC) and the Safety Nets:SSDUK project. It also brings together shared interests from the Social Policy Association’s ‘Employment policy group’ and researchers of territorial politics and devolution, social security, and welfare state rescaling.

The ‘Safety Nets: Social Security in a Devolved UK’ (SSDUK) project (2024-2027) Is funded by the Nuffield Foundation, but the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily the Foundation. Visit www.nuffieldfoundation.org. The project is a multi-institutional and inter-disciplinary research and policy team, comprised of academics from seven universities across all four UK nations (University of York, University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University, University of Salford, University of Cardiff, Ulster University, Oxford University), and with policy partners, Resolution Foundation and Child Poverty Action Group.

Unpicking the ‘scalar fallacy’?