Notes
The Government's 2007 Public Service Agreements
On 9th October 2007, the Government published its 2007 Pre-budget report and comprehensive spending review. Whilst the pre-budget report part is an annual publication, the comprehensive spending review part is only published once every three years. Its purpose is to set out the Government's spending plans for the period 2008 to 2011. As part of this, it includes a set of public service agreements, which are effectively agreements between the spending departments and the Treasury on the key objectives that will be delivered over the next few years.
Of the 30 overall aims in the public service agreements, 16 have some relevance from a poverty and social exclusion perspective and it is these 16 which are summarised below.
Each overall aim has a number of indicators of progress associated with it. Some of these indicators also have specific national targets for achievement. Where there is no specific national target, government's expectation is that the indicator will improve against baseline trends over the next few years. These two types of indicator are distinguished in the material below as follows:
- Indicators with national targets: grouped under the heading 'national targets' and listing the target only (the indicator itself not being necessary).
- Indicators without national targets: grouped under the heading 'other indicators of progress'.
In addition, the equivalent material from the previous (2004) comprehensive spending review is also provided for each aim together with brief comments on how the 2007 material compares with the 2004 material. Note that, as in 2004, the child poverty target is in terms of relative low income.
Overall aim 2: Improve the skills of the population, on the way to ensuring a world-class skills base by 2020
Lead department
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
National targets
597,000 people of working age to achieve a first level 1 or above literacy qualification, and 390,000 to achieve a first entry level 3 or above numeracy qualification.
79% of working age adults qualified to at least full Level 2.
56% of working age adults qualified to at least full level 3.
130,000 apprentices to complete the full apprenticeship framework in 2010/11.
36% of working age adults qualified to Level 4 and above by 2014, with an interim milestone of 34% by 2011.
Increase participation in Higher Education towards 50% of those aged 18 to 30 with growth of at least a percentage point every two years to the academic year 2010/11.
Previous 2004 targets
Increase the number of adults with the skills required for employability and progression to higher levels of training through:
- improving the basic skill levels of 2.25 million adults between the launch of Skills for Life in 2001 and 2010, with a milestone of 1.5 million in 2007; and
- reducing by at least 40% the number of adults in the UK workforce who lack NVQ2 or equivalent qualifications by 2010. Working towards this, one million adults already in the workforce to achieve level 2 between 2003 and 2006.
Comparison between 2007 and 2004
A more extensive set of targets in 2007 than in 2004 reflecting the Leitch report.
Overall aim 8: Maximise employment opportunity for all.
Lead department
Department for Work and Pensions.
National targets
None.
Other indicators of progress
- Overall employment rate taking account of the economic cycle.
- Narrow the gap between the employment rates of the following disadvantaged groups and the overall rate: disabled people; lone parents; ethnic minorities; people aged 50 and over; those with no qualifications; and those living in the most deprived Local Authority wards.
- Number of people on working age out-of-work benefits.
- Amount of time people spend on out-of-work benefits.
Previous 2004 targets
As part of the wider objective of full employment in every region, over the three years to Spring 2008, and taking account of the economic cycle, demonstrate progress on increasing the employment rate.
As part of the wider objective of full employment in every region, over the three years to Spring 2008, and taking account of the economic cycle:
- increase the employment rates of disadvantaged groups (lone parents, ethnic minorities, people aged 50 and over, those with the lowest qualifications, and those living in local authority wards with the poorest initial labour market position); and
- significantly reduce the difference between the employment rates of the disadvantaged groups and the overall rate.
As a contribution to reducing the proportion of children living in households where no-one is working by 2008:
- increase the stock of Ofsted-registered childcare by 10%;
- increase the take-up of formal childcare by lower income working families by 50%; and
- introduce by April 2005, a successful light-touch childcare approval scheme.
Comparison between 2007 and 2004
Similar in scope and focus.
Overall aim 9: Halve the number of children in poverty by 2010-11, on the way to eradicating child poverty by 2020.
Lead department
HM Treasury.
National targets
Reduce by a half the number of children living in relative low-income by 2010/11.
Other indicators of progress
- Number of children in absolute low-income households.
- Number of children in relative low-income households and in material deprivation.
Previous 2004 targets
Halve the number of children in relative low-income households between 1998/99 and 2010/11, on the way to eradicating child poverty by 2020, including:
- reducing the proportion of children in workless households by 5% between spring 2005 and spring 2008; and
- increasing the proportion of parents with care on Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance who receive maintenance for their children by 65% by March 2008.
By 2008, be paying Pension Credit to at least 3.2 million pensioner households. While maintaining a focus on the most disadvantaged by ensuring that at least 2.2 million of these households are in receipt of the Guarantee Credit.
Comparison between 2007 and 2004
Similar in scope and focus.
The target is still in terms of the numbers in relative low income households.
Still no indicators or targets for working-age poverty.
Overall aim 10: Raise the educational achievement of all children and young people
Lead department
Department for Children, Schools and Families.
National targets
Increase the proportion of young children achieving a total points score of at least 78 across all 13 Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) scales - with at least 6 in each of the communications, language and literacy and language (CLL) and personal, social and emotional development (PSED) scales - by an additional 4 percentage points from 2008 results, by 2011.
Increase the proportion achieving level 4 in both English and maths at Key Stage 2 to 78% by 2011.
Increase the proportion achieving level 5 in both English and maths at Key Stage 3 to 74% by 2011.
Increase the proportion achieving 5A*-C GCSEs (and equivalent), including GCSEs in both English and maths, at Key Stage 4 to 53% by 2011.
Increase the proportion of young people achieving Level 2 at age 19 to 82% by 2011.
Increase the proportion of young people achieving Level 3 at age 19 to 54% by 2011.
Previous 2004 targets
Improve children's communication, social and emotional development so that, by 2008, 50% of children reach a good level of development at the end of the Foundation Stage and reduce inequalities between the level of development achieved by children in the 20% most disadvantaged areas and the rest of England.
Raise standards in English and maths so that:
- by 2006, 85% of 11 year olds achieve level 4 or above and (not with this level of performance sustained to 2008; and
- by 2008, the number of schools in which fewer than 65% of pupils achieve level 4 or above reduced by 40%.Raise standards in English, maths, ICT and science in secondary education so that:
- by 2007 85% of 14 year olds achieve level 5 or above in English, maths and ICT ( 80% in science) nationally with this level of performance sustained to 2008; and
- by 2008, in all schools at least 50% of pupils achieve level 5 or above in each of English, maths and science.
By 2008, 60% of those aged 16 to achieve the equivalent of 5 GCSEs at grades A* to C; and in all schools at least 20% of pupils to achieve this standard by 2004, rising to 25% by 2006 and 30% by 2008.
Increase the proportion of 19 year olds who achieve at least Level 2 by 3 percentage points between 2004 to 2006, and a further 2 percentage points between 2006 and 2008, and increase the proportion of young people who achieve level 3.
Comparison between 2007 and 2004
Similar in scope and focus.
Still no targets or indicators for GCSE thresholds below the 5A*-C headline measure.
Overall aim 11: Narrow the gap in educational achievement between children from low income and disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers
Lead department
Department for Children, Schools and Families.
National targets
Improve the average (mean) score of the lowest 20% of the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) results, so that the gap between that average score and the median score is reduced by an additional 3 percentage points from 2008 results, by 2011.
Increase the proportion of pupils progressing by 2 levels in English and maths at each of Key Stages 2, 3 and 4 by 2011:
- KS2: English 9 percentage points, maths 11 percentage points.
- KS3: English 16 percentage points, maths 12 percentage points.
- KS4: English 15 percentage points, maths 13 percentage points.
Increase the proportion of children in care at Key Stage 2 achieving level 4 in English to 60% by 2011, and level 4 in mathematics to 55% by 2011.
Increase the proportion of children in care achieving 5A*-C GCSEs (and equivalent) at Key Stage 4 to 20% by 2011.
Other indicators of progress
- Achievement gap between pupils eligible for Free School Meals and their peers at Key Stages 2 and 4.
- Proportion of young people from low-income backgrounds progressing to higher education.
Previous 2004 targets
Improve children's communication, social and emotional development so that, by 2008, 50% of children reach a good level of development at the end of the Foundation Stage and reduce inequalities between the level of development achieved by children in the 20% most disadvantaged areas and the rest of England.
Narrow the gap in educational achievement between looked-after children and that of their peers, and improve their educational support and stability of their lives so that, by 2008, 80% of children under 1 who have been looked after for at least two and a half years will have been living in the same placement for at least two years, or placed for adoption.
Comparison between 2007 and 2004
The subject has a higher prominence in 2007 than in 2004.
Overall aim 12: Improve the health and well-being of children and young people
Lead department
Department for Children, Schools and Families.
National targets
Reduce the proportion of overweight and obese children to 2000 levels by 2020 in the context of tackling obesity across the population.
Other indicators of progress
- Breastfeeding at six to eight weeks.
- Take up of school lunches.
- Child emotional health and well-being.
- Services for disabled children.
Previous 2004 targets
Halt the year-on-year rise in obesity among children under 11 by 2010 in the context of a broader strategy to tackle obesity in the population as a whole.
Comparison between 2007 and 2004
Similar in scope and focus.
Overall aim 13: Improve children and young people's safety
Lead department
Department for Children, Schools and Families.
National targets
None.
Other indicators of progress
- Children and young people who have experienced bullying.
- Initial assessments for children's social care carried out within 7 days of referral.
- Hospital admissions caused by unintentional and deliberate injuries to children and young people.
- Preventable child deaths as recorded through child death review panel processes.
Comparison between 2007 and 2004
More extensive than in 2004.
Overall aim 14: Increase the number of children and young people on the path to success
Lead department
Department for Children, Schools and Families.
National targets
Reduce the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training by 2 percentage points by 2010.
Reduce the under-18 conception rate by 50% by 2010 as part of a broader strategy to improve sexual health.
Other indicators of progress
- Young people participating in positive activities.
- Young people frequently using drugs, alcohol or volatile substances.
- First-time entrants to the Criminal Justice System aged 10-17.
Previous 2004 targets
Reduce the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training by 2 percentage points by 2010.
Reduce the under-18 conception rate by 50% by 2010 as part of a broader strategy to improve sexual health.
Comparison between 2007 and 2004
Similar in scope and focus.
Overall aim 15: Address the disadvantage that individuals experience because of their gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.
Lead department
Government Equalities Office.
National targets
None.
Other indicators of progress
- Gender gap in hourly pay.
- Level of choice, control and flexibility to enable independent living.
- Participation in public life by women, ethnic minorities, disabled people and young people.
- Discrimination in employment.
- Fairness of treatment by services.
Previous 2004 targets
By 2008, working with all departments, bring about measurable improvements in gender equality across a range of indicators, as part of the Government's objectives on equality and social inclusion.
Comparison between 2007 and 2004
More extensive in scope and more specific in 2007 than in 2004.
Overall aim 16: Increase the proportion of socially excluded adults in settled accommodation and employment, education or training
Lead department
Cabinet Office.
National targets
None.
Other indicators of progress
- Care leavers at 19 in suitable accommodation.
- Offenders under probation supervision and in settled and suitable accommodation.
- Adults in contact with secondary mental health services in settled accommodation.
- Adults with learning disabilities in settled accommodation.
- Care-leavers at 19 in education, training and employment.
- Offenders under probation supervision in employment.
- Adults in contact with secondary mental health services in employment.
- Adults with learning disabilities in employment.
Previous 2004 targets
Narrow the gap in educational achievement between looked-after children and that of their peers, and improve their educational support and stability of their lives so that, by 2008, 80% of children under 1 who have been looked after for at least two and a half years will have been living in the same placement for at least two years, or placed for adoption.
Comparison between 2007 and 2004
More extensive in scope than in 2004.
Overall aim 17: Tackle poverty and promote greater independence and well-being in later life
Lead department
Department for Work and Pensions.
National targets
None.
Other indicators of progress
- Employment rate age 50-69: percentage difference between this and overall employment rate.
- Pensioner poverty.
- Healthy life-expectancy at age 65.
- Over 65s satisfied with home and neighbourhood.
- Over 65s supported to live independently.
Previous 2004 targets
By 2008, be paying Pension Credit to at least 3.2 million pensioner households. While maintaining a focus on the most disadvantaged by ensuring that at least 2.2 million of these households are in receipt of the Guarantee Credit.
Improve the quality of life and independence of vulnerable older people by supporting them to live in their own homes where possible by:
- increasing the proportion of older people being supported to live in their own home by 1% annually in 2007 and 2008; and
- increasing by 2008, the proportion of those supported intensively to live at home to 34% of the total of those being supported at home or in residential care.
Comparison between 2007 and 2004
Similar in scope and focus but with pensioner poverty mentioned for the first time in 2007.
Overall aim 18: Promote better health and well-being for all
Lead department
Department of Health.
National targets
By 2010, increase the average life expectancy at birth in England to 78.6 years for men and to 82.5 years for women monitored using mortality rates as a proxy.
Reduce health inequalities by 10% by 2010 as measured by life expectancy at birth (monitored using AAACM as a proxy).
To reduce reducing adult (16+) smoking rates to 21% or less by 2010, with a reduction in prevalence among routine and manual groups to 26% or less.
Other indicators of progress
- Proportion of people supported to live independently.
- Access to psychological therapies.
Previous 2004 targets
Substantially reduce mortality rates by 2010:
- from heart disease and stroke and related diseases by at least 40 % in people under 75; with at least a 40 % reduction in the inequalities gap between the fifth of areas with the worst health and deprivation indicators and the population as a whole;
- from cancer by at least 20% in people under 75, with a reduction in the inequalities gap of at least 6% between the fifth of areas with the worst health and deprivation indicators and the population as a whole; and
- from suicide and undetermined injury by at least 20%.
Reduce health inequalities by 10% by 2010 as measured by infant mortality and life expectancy at birth.
Comparison between 2007 and 2004
Less specific in 2007 than in 2004.
Overall aim 20: Increase long-term housing supply and affordability
Lead department
Department for Communities and Local Government
National targets
Increase the number of net additional homes provided per annum to 240,000 by 2016.
Increase the number of gross affordable homes provided per annum to 70,000 by 2010-11 including 45,000 social homes.
Halve the number of households in temporary accommodation to 50,500 households by 2010.
By March 2011, 80% of local planning authorities to have adopted the necessary Development Plan Documents, in accordance with their agreed Local Development Scheme.
Other indicators of progress
- Trends in affordability.
- Efficiency rating of new homes.
Previous 2004 targets
Achieve a better balance between housing availability and the demand for housing, including improving affordability. in all English regions while protecting valuable countryside around our towns, cities and in the green belt and the sustainability of towns and cities.
By 2010, bring all social housing into decent condition with most of this improvement taking place in deprived areas, and for vulnerable households in the private sector, including families with children, increase the proportion who live in homes that are in decent condition.
Eliminate fuel poverty in vulnerable households in England by 2010 in line with the Government's Fuel Poverty Strategy objective Joint with the department for Trade and Industry.
Comparison between 2007 and 2004
Reflecting the Barker report, 2007 focuses on affordability whereas the 2004 targets mostly focused on quality.
Overall aim 21: Build more cohesive, empowered and active communities
Lead department
Department for Communities and Local Government.
National targets
None.
Other indicators of progress
- Percentage of people who believe people from different backgrounds get on well together in their local area.
- Percentage of people who have meaningful interactions with people from different backgrounds.
- Percentage of people who feel they can influence decisions in their locality.
- Percentage of people who feel that they belong to their neighbourhood.
- Thriving third sector.
- Percentage of people who participate in culture or in sport.
Previous 2004 targets
Increase voluntary and community engagement, especially amongst those at risk of social exclusion.
Reduce race inequalities and build community cohesion.
Tackle social exclusion and deliver neighbourhood renewal, working with department to help them meet their PSA floor National targets, in particular narrowing the gap in health, education, crime, worklessness, housing and liveability outcomes between the most deprived areas and the rest of England, with measurable improvement by 2010.
Comparison between 2007 and 2004
Similar in scope and focus.
Overall aim 23: Make communities safer
Lead department
Home Office.
National targets
None.
Other indicators of progress
- Level of most serious violent crimes.
- Level of serious acquisitive crimes.
- Public confidence in local agencies involved in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.
- Percentage of people perceiving anti-social behaviour as a problem.
- Level of proven re-offending by young and adult offenders.
- Level of serious re-offending.
Previous 2004 targets
Reduce crime by 15% and further in high crime areas by 2007/08.
Reassure the public, reducing the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour, and building confidence in the Criminal Justice System without compromising fairness.
Tackle social exclusion and deliver neighbourhood renewal, working with department to help them meet their PSA floor National targets, in particular narrowing the gap in health, education, crime, worklessness, housing and liveability outcomes between the most deprived areas and the rest of England, with measurable improvement by 2010.
Comparison between 2007 and 2004
Similar in scope and focus but less specific in its targets in 2007 than in 2004.
Overall aim 25: Reduce the harm caused by alcohol and drugs
Lead department
Home Office.
National targets
None.
Other indicators of progress
- Percentage change in the number of drug users recorded as being in effective treatment.
- Rate of hospital admissions per 100,000 for alcohol related harm.
- Rate of drug related offending.
- Percentage of the public who perceive drug use or dealing to be a problem in their area.
- Percentage of the public who perceive drunk and rowdy behaviour to be a problem in their area.
Previous 2004 targets
Increase the participation of problem drug users in drug treatment programmes by 100% by 2008, and increase year on year the proportion of users successfully sustaining or completing treatment programmes.
Comparison between 2007 and 2004
Broader in 2007 than in 2004 but less specific.