research report

What Scottish parents tell us - Full Report of IPSOS Poll undertaken for pas 2008

In 2007 the Scottish Government launched the National Performance Framework which set out, among other things, its vision for children and young people. Part of that vision is a commitment to provide all children with the best start in life and encourage young people to develop into successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.

Families information services: evaluation of services provided

This report begins with a summary giving the background; key findings; notes on childcare information; advice and assistance - the brokerage service; information about other services, facilities and publications; information on services for disabled children, children with special educational needs and for disabled parents; access to the information service; service delivery; changes made as a result of the extended information duty requirements; and barriers, ending with recommendations and notes on limitations of the research. The main text then pursues these themes in detail.

Tackling child poverty when parents cannot work

The report describes the current strengths and weaknesses in policy provision to combat child poverty when parental employment is constrained and is a timely analysis given the approaching 2010 deadline for halving child poverty from 1999 levels. The analysis uses original and unique tax-benefit modelling of current provision across a range of low-paid and out-of-work family profiles.

Employment and mental health: assessing the economic impact and the case for intervention

The importance of employment and its links with mental health are summarised and the European policy context described. The report then asks what the consequences of poor mental health for economic activity are, if a trend in productivity losses over time can be seen and what we know about employment rates for people with mental health problems. Barriers to employment, the economic case for helping such people remain in the workforce, assessing the cost effectiveness of interventions to this end, legislative and policy actions, and the way forward are discussed.