Videos Archive

Gearty Grilling: John Hills on the Cost of Inequality 

Released on: 28 May 2015
Contributor: Professor Sir John Hills

John Hills, Professor of Social Policy, discusses the need to reduce inequality in Britain.

LSE Public Lecture- British Government @ LSE
Housing

Recorded on: 04 March 2015
Speakers: Charles Goodhart, Nancy Holman, Professor Anne Power, Christine Whitehead
Chair: Kate Allen, Financial Times

Housing presents a range of challenges for whichever party wins the next election. Everyone agrees there is a shortage of homes (to rent or to buy) as well as an affordability crisis in many parts of the country, and yet housing completions are at historically low levels. Experts have listed a number of reasons for the lack of new investment including the planning process, the lack of available land, a shortage of finance, restrictions on building on the Green Belt, the influence of overseas buyers, and indeed cutbacks in government grant. Additionally, increasing regulation is making it harder for households who would traditionally have been able to become owner-occupiers to do so. Increasing numbers of families—especially in London—are paying high rents for poor quality and insecure accommodation. Consequently, policies to increase investment and standards in the private rented sector are under discussion, as are ways to improve access to mortgage funding and low cost homeownership.But housing is also a macro-economic issue – housing costs affect competitiveness; over-emphasis on housing investment might limit more productive sectors; and mortgage debt is seen as a source of macro instability. This event will examine the key challenges facing the parties as they struggle to create more homes, to give households better choices, and to reduce volatility in the housing market and the economy as a whole.

LSE Public Lecture- British Government @ LSE
Social Policy and Inequality

Recorded on:  25 February 2015
Speakers: Professor John Hills, Professor Julian Le Grand, Professor Eileen Munro and Professor Tim Newburn
Chair: Professor  Tony Travers

The NHS, education, children’s services and social security are among the most politically-salient issues affecting the outcome of the 2015 election. Polling shows the public strongly supports additional funding for health, though it is less enthusiastic about aspects of welfare. Children’s services are now very high-profile and require continuing political and official action to deliver effective care. In parallel, measures of inequality suggest Britain has become a less equal society and that there is political pressure to do something to reduce both income and wealth differentials. Despite protection for the NHS and pensions, budgets for most Welfare State services are under immense pressure. This panel will consider the limited choices for the major parties as the approach the election.

Koestler Trust Mentoring Programme

Released on: 03 November 2014
Contributor: Dr Leo Cheliotis

Since 2007 The Koestler Trust has supported ex-offenders to continue with their artistic activities by matching them with a specially trained arts mentor. The Koestler Trust commissioned this film to help explain and promote the mentoring programme to future mentees, mentors and funders. The film explains the journey from a mentee that is starting out through to mentee that has attained a higher level with the programme.

Gearty Grilling: Martin Knapp on Spending on Mental Health

Released on: 30 October 2014
Contributor: Professor Martin Knapp

Professor Martin Knapp discusses why we should prioritise spending on mental health.

Department of Social Policy Public Lecture:
Happiness by Design

Released on: 22 October 2014
Contributor:Professor Paul Dolan 

Chaired by Professor Elaine Fox (Oxford), Paul Dolan held a public lecture at the LSE to coincide with his new book ‘Happiness by Design’. The sold out event included a lecture by Paul, a conversation with Elaine Fox and finally a Q&A segment with the audience that posed some interesting questions.

Gearty Grilling: Anne Power on growing inequality and why we need food banks

Released on:   25 June 2014
Contributor: Professor Anne Power

Anne Power, Professor of Social Policy, discusses growing inequality, why government should listen more to ordinary people and why we now need food banks.

Gearty Grilling: Julian Legrand on how choice and competition can improves public services

Released on: 21 May 2014
Contributor: Professor Julian Legrand

Julian Le Grand, Richard Titmuss professor of Social Policy and one of the principal architects of the UK Government’s public service reforms, explains why competition is the best way of enhancing hospitals and schools.