The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
1240/5(7244)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER
BY DEPUTY T.A. VALLOIS OF ST. SAVIOUR ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 20th NOVEMBER 2012
Question
Could the Chief Minister advise whether the creation of a Strategic Social Assessment (as per Social Policy Framework 2007) which reviews social issues and trends and predicts their impact on services in the short and long term was ever implemented and, if not, why not and will he look at implementing this in the near future?
Further to page 31 of the Social Policy Framework 2007 which states that "Policy makers are less well placed to understand how economic growth impacts on social policy objectives", could the Chief Minister advise how the recommendations for action to rectify this statement have in fact been implemented?
Would the Chief Minister advise whether he is satisfied with the results and whether any improvements need to be made?
Answer
A Strategic Social Assessment has not been implemented as per the recommendation set out in 2007 Social Policy Framework.
However, the Chief Minister's Department will be reviewing and refreshing the 2007 Social Policy Framework, in partnership will all other Departments, during 2013, and an emphasis will be placed on ensuring actions are delivered.
As to the balance between economic policies and social policies, in many ways it is a false distinction, as is illustrated by our present issues with unemployment which is both an economic and a social issue. Indeed, as alluded to in the question, the objective should be to get the right economic policies to deliver both social and material well being. The 2012 Strategic Plan does this, most notably by emphasising priorities aimed at delivering improvements in areas like unemployment, health, families and children, housing and immigration, all of which have both economic and social impacts.