UBS – sustainable social safety for the 21st century
Report written by a team of academics proposes ‘Universal Basic Services’
Some £42billion a year would be spent handing out food, housing and phones
Shadow chancellor hails the ‘bold’ plans and says they will inform his policy
Academics suggest the government provide free housing, food, transport and internet to help deal with the rise of robots taking jobs
THE STATE should provide free housing, food, transport and internet access to help cushion the blow of thousands of jobs being lost to advancement in technology, a report has suggested.
The state should make shelter, food, travel and IT services available to all, free at the point of use, rather than focusing on redistributing money, a team at UCL says
‘Universal basic services’ costing about £42bn could be funded through higher taxes, say Jonathan Portes and academics
People in more equal societies are more willing to help each other, trust each other, and to take part in community life.
At a time of austerity, it is sometimes difficult to remember that the UK is one of the richest countries on the planet. Rising homelessness and the use of foodbanks are just a couple of indicators that a portion of our society is being left behind.
It makes an important contribution to the debate around Universal Basic Income, and will help inform Labour’s thinking on how we can build an economy that truly works for the many not the few.
The report said those at risk of hunger over the summer include more than 1 million children who receive free school meals during term time, and 2 million more with working parents who are still in poverty.
Universal Basic Services 