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The term 'universal basic services' (UBS) describes a set of proposals for achieving universal access to life's essentials within the limits of a finite ecosystem. It's not a new idea but a product of learning about the strengths and weaknesses of social democracy over more than six decades. It reclaims the collective ideal that shaped the post-war settlement and resets it for the twenty-first century. It is designed as part of a systemic strategy for tackling the climate emergency by way of social justice. And this, surely, must be a driving force in renewing social democracy today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 21-hour working week is a long way from today's standard of 40 hours or more, but not so far-fetched when people consider the infinitely varied ways in which they actually spend their time. On average, people of working age spend 19.6 hours a week in paid employment and 20.4 hours in unpaid housework and childcare. These averages mask huge inequalities, both between women and men and between income groups--not only in how they use their time, but also in how far they can control it. Bringing the standard nearer to the average could help to iron out these differences. Moving towards a standard of 21 hours could help to redistribute unpaid as well as paid time--for example, by making more jobs available for the unemployed and giving men more time to look after their children. A "normal" working week of 21 hours could help address a range of problems, from overwork and unemployment to low wellbeing and over-consumption. The challenge is to make sure that everyone benefits, not just those who are already relatively privileged. This proposal for a 21-hour working week is intended as a provocation, to stimulate debate and ideas. It also reflects an urgent need to build a sustainable future.

The idea of pooling resources and sharing risks to provide universal services according to need not ability to pay was at the heart of the post-war settlement. However, decades of market ideology and deep spending cuts have left most services starved of power and resources. Universal Basic Services (UBS) offers a principled framework for policy and practice that aims to ensure everyone has access to life's essentials. Based on need theory it combines universality with sufficiency to provide a secure social foundation for all within planetary boundaries. Needs are met in different ways, combining collective and individual measures, as illustrated by examples of childcare, housing and food. UBS can be combined with an income guarantee to ensure no-one's income falls below an agreed level of sufficiency. Cash and services, which represent a 'social wage', are best understood as two sides of the same coin, supporting rather than competing with one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK's coalition government wants to build a "Big Society." The Prime Minister says "we are all in this together" and building it is the responsibility of every citizen as well as every government department. The broad vision is welcome, but everything depends on how the vision is translated into policy and practice. The government aims to put more power and responsibility into the hands of families, groups, networks, neighbourhoods and locally based communities, and to generate more community organisers, neighbourhood groups, volunteers, mutuals, co-operatives, charities, social enterprises and small businesses. David Cameron describes his plans for a "Big Society" as "the biggest, most dramatic redistribution of power" from state to individuals. But how can these groups or networks ensure that the best of the vision is realised and the poor and powerless are not left behind? This article discusses the Big Society idea, the important role of social justice in this effort, and the long-term impacts of this initiative.

Discussions about sustainable consumption corridors tend to focus on private consumption. This Policy brief explores the contribution that public consumption may provide in maintaining lower and upper corridor boundaries. Recently developed proposals for "universal basic services" (UBS) are offered as a framework for understanding the potential of public consumption in this context. Drawing on a multi-disciplinary literature, the policy brief seeks to define and analyze the concept of universal basic services in theoretical and practical terms. It considers how far they may contribute and what their limits are, and briefly examines the extent to which this approach complements or conflicts with proposals for universal basic income (UBI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thatcher's health care policy worsened the problem of the National Health Service (NHS) by perpetuating double standards, indifference and misguided prioritization. Reform in the NHS is crucial to the state of health care, not only because lack of it means mismanagement of public money, but also because urgent medical needs will continue to go unattended. A reformed NHS can result only when a fresh health care system emerges from an enlightened health policy.

The United Kingdom government should focus equally on the 'core economy' of family, care and community work. Some transactions in the economy are seen to benefit some people over others. Introduction of co-production into the design and provision of public services is seen to transform the welfare system.

It has been suggested that the National Health Service (NHS) needs to make a provision for the prevention of sickness within the community. A link between poor health and unemployment has been discovered and it is recommended that the NHS are involved in urban regeneration projects.