Present Day g.B.: Population strategies and policies.

Overview. By 2011 the population total is expected 60 mln. The English take up 4/5 of the population, the Welsh and the Irish – about 15 %. Density in England is 363, Wales – 137, Scotland – 66. As to density, it is the third in Europe after the Netherlands and Belgium. GB has ranked the 10th out of 160 countries on a human development index that combines life expectancy, education levels and basic purchasing power.

Migration.

Mass emigration from GB stopped during World War I, when the traditional receiving countries (USA and Canada) imposed strict limitations on immigration. The automatic right to migrate and to British citizenship was stopped by Thatcher in the 80-s. New Commonwealth (anything but Canada, Australia, New Zealand) + Pakistani settlers account for 2 mln recent arrivals, who live mostly in the south-east and west Midlands. There are also sizable groups of Americans, Australians, The Chinese, Greeks and Turkish Cypriots, Italians and Spaniards.

British citizenship is acquired automatically at birth by a child if parents are British or settled in Britain; by naturalisation for Commonwealth citizens, citizens of the Irish Republic who are aged 18 or over; for the rest – after 5 years residence in Britain (+ good character, sound mind, and sufficient knowledge of English. Social Class Make up.

There are no peasants – crofters are a dying out class. There are farmers and hired labourers. Since 1950s there has been a massive growth at the middle class (senior professionals, judges, senior medical specialists, senior civil servants). Unlike the working class, it has great mobility.

Ethnic Minorities.

The 1991 Census of Population for the first time included a question on ethnic origin. Over 25% population in London boroughs and the districts of Leicester comprises ethnic minority groups. Their children may need special help in education, there is a higher rate of unemployment. There is special attention to the treatment of the ethnic monorities in the criminal justice system, which is called ‘ethnic monitoring’ and requires annual publication of statistics.. The same concerns the National Health Service. Special link workers are employed within the NHS to help overcome barriers of language and culture.

In 1977 Race discrimination Act proclaimed absolute equality for non-white British sitizens.

Women.

It is estimated that women form 25% of managers and about 3 % of senior executives in GB; as a rule they are paid less for the same job. This is a legacy of past attitudes which is often referred to as ‘Glass ceiling’. . There exist special career training schemes for women, also mentoring schemes.

Improvements in antenatal care lead to decrease of maternal deaths they account for just 1 % of all deaths of women of fertile age. Women inGB have the right to return to work after aperiod of 40 weeks’ maternity absence.

Child Welfare in Britain.

Care for ‘in-need’ children. The definition ‘in-need’ is referred to children with disabilities and those suffering from social and economic deprivation.60 % of those are boarded out in foster homes, the rest receive residential care in children’s homes. The provision and management of children’s homes .

Day care. By the time they reach the age of 5, the great majority of children in Britain willhave attended a day care group or nursery class. Benefits for Children and Families include: Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), a one-parent benefit, family credit, which depends on a family’s net income. All children are entitled to free dental and medical treatment under the National Health Service.

There is a comprehensive system of youth clubs and ‘drop-in’ centres, which provide counselling and careers advice alongside with leasure activities; they are strategically located in the inner city areas, where the rate of unemployment is high.

A number of services support young people seeking special information or counselling: high street information shops – where subjects dealt with may include AIDS, health issues, sports , education, sex, job prospects, interview techniques, training courses, etc.

One can legally: at 16 leave school, ride a motorbike, buy cigarettes, get married (with parental consent); at 17 drive a car; at 18 buy alcohol, vote and get married.

There are about 10 mln older people living in Britain today and their numbers comtinue to grow. Life expectancy at birth is an average of 74 for men and 79 for women.. Services provided for older people include various help at home and day centres. The former include ‘meals on wheels’ delivered by the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service and the Red Cross. Day and night attentants are available through social services departments. ‘Good neighbour’ schemes operate in many areas. Day centres and clubs provide an important meeting place for older people. They provide a hot meal, some services (e.g. laundry), some educational courses art and craft classes and even arrange holidays.

The next aspect of social care concerns suitable accomodation: it may vary from adapting the home, sheltered housing to residential and nursing homes.

There is a comprehensive system of benefits and discounts for elder people. British Rail sells a Senior Citizen’s Railcard , which allows them to travel on most train services at a discounted price.

A state retirement pension is paid to women aged 60 and over and to men aged 65 and over. It consists of a weekly pension, which is based on the amount of basic contributions paid during a person’s working life. A non-contributary pension is paid to people over the age of 80. Pensioneers may have unlimited earnings without affecting their pension.