Includes bibliographical references (p. [281]-293) and index.

Preface. Acknowledgements. 1. What Is Social Policy? Introduction. Which Policies? Conclusions: Studying Social Policy. Suggestions For Further Reading. 2. The History Of Social Policy: Introduction. Developments Before The Twentieth Century. 1900 - 1939: An Emergent Welfare State? 1940 - 1951: Laying The Foundations Of The Uks Modern System Of Social Policy. 1951 - 1979: Consolidation And Modification. 1979 - 1997: The UK Welfare State In Crisis? 1997 - 2001: Back From The Crisis? Suggestions For Further Reading. 3. The Making Of Social Policy: Introduction. The Representative Government Model. The Central Government System. Devolution. Local Government. The United Kingdom In Europe. The Voice Of The People? Influences On Policy Making. Ministerial Power: The Role Of Officials And The Influence Of Outside Groups And Policy Communities. Suggestions For Further Reading. 4. Implementation: Introduction. Structures For Policy Implementation. Analysing Policy Implementation. Issues About The Implications Of The Way Policy Is Formed. Issues About 'Layers' In The Policy Transfer Process. Factors Affecting The Responses Of Implementation Agencies. Horizontal Interorganizational Relationships. The Social, Political And Economic Environment. Conclusions. Suggestions For Further Reading. 5. Social Security: Introduction. Contributory Benefits. Benefits That The State Requires The Employer To Provide. Non-Contributory, Non-Means-Tested, Contingent Benefits. Means-Tested Benefits. Tax Credits. Statistics On The Benefit System. The Distinctive Characteristics Of The UK System Of Social Security. Pension Reform. Problems About Means-Testing. Social Security Assumptions About Family Life And Women's Roles. Social Security Benefit Levels And Poverty. Conclusions. Suggestions For Further Reading. 6. Employment Policy: Introduction. Characteristics Of The UK Approach To Employment Policy. The Impact Upon The UK Of European Union

The seventh edition of Michael Hill's Understanding Social Policy updates his successful text to take into account policy innovations since Labour came to power in 1997 and to reflect the many ways in which the debate about social policy is changing. The book has been significantly reshaped to reflect new or strengthened policy linkages, in particularly those between social security and employment, and child care and education. It also contains a new chapter putting the UK in comparative perspective. Its last chapter examines the way in which social policy has been dramatically transformed by changes in politics and society in the last twenty years and contains a new section that looks specifically at 'social divisions' within the UK social policy system, including a discussion of the poorer deal often secured by women and by members of ethnic minorities.