Ministry of Social Services Policy Reviews

Cabinet Secretary's Note - Below are the department's assessments for various proposed government policies. I have included our existing policies for comparison. Some policies will be harder to implement than others, and that is reflected in the 'political cost'; that is, the amount of political will there is to see it through. This amount will be deducted from the Political Capital available to the General Assembly as listed in the most recent annual report. Costings are correct as of the tabling of this review, but may vary from changes to population, wages, or national circumstances.

New Policy Reviews

Alcohol Awareness Media Campaign

Political Cost: Implement 2
Cost Range: Up to ₣52M
Implementing will

Decrease: Alcohol Consumption

Children and Dependants Payment

Political Cost: Implement 18
Cost Range: ₣520M to ₣5,650M
Implementing will

Increase: Poor Opinion, Income Equality, Parent Opinion, Liberal Opinion, Parent Identity, Poor Class Income, Parent Income, Population Growth, Socialist Identity, Gender Equality

Decrease: Capitalist Opinion

Compulsory Work-for-Welfare Scheme

Political Cost: Implement 25
Cost Range: Up to ₣75M
Implementing will

Increase: Middle Class Income, Capitalist Opinion,

Decrease: Poor Opinion, Socialist Opinion, Unemployment, Socialist Identity

Disability Welfare Payments

Political Cost: Implement 9
Cost Range: ₣450M to ₣4,500M
Implementing will

Increase: Income Equality, Retired Opinion, Retired Income

Elderly Winter Utility Payment

Political Cost: Implement 9
Cost Range: Up to ₣67M
Implementing will

Increase: National Health, Retired Opinion, Retired Identity, Retired Income

Decrease: Poverty, Environmentalist Opinion, Energy Efficiency

Family Planning Programs

Political Cost: Implement 5
Cost Range: Up to ₣273M
Implementing will

Increase: Gender Equality, National Health, Education Attainment, Liberal Opinion

Decrease: Religious Opinion, Conservative Opinion, Parent Identity

Food Stamp Voucher Program

Political Cost: Implement 4
Cost Range: Up to ₣2,680M
Implementing will

Increase: National Health, Poor Class Income, Poor Opinion, Socialist Opinion, Farmer Income, Farmer Opinion, Income Equality

Decrease: Poverty, Food Price Crisis

Genital Mutilation Limitations or Ban

Political Cost: Implement 5
Cost Range: Up to ₣8M
Implementing will

Increase: Liberal Opinion, Gender Equality

Decrease: Religious Opinion, Conservative Opinion

Limit or Ban Multiple Home Ownership

Political Cost: Implement 28
Cost Range: Up to ₣7M
Implementing will

Increase: Poor Opinion, Socialist Opinion, Income Equality, Socialist Identity

Decrease: Capitalist Opinion, Wealthy Opinion, Poverty, Homelessness Crisis

One-Child Policy

Political Cost: Implement 40
Cost Range: N/A
Implementing will

Decrease: Religious Opinion, Parent Opinion, Unemployment, Parent Identity, Liberal Opinion, Population Growth, Liberal Identity

Private Rent Control Regulations

Political Cost: Implement 4
Cost Range: ₣7M
Implementing will

Increase: Socialist Opinion, Poor Class Income

Decrease: Poverty, Capitalist Opinion, Private Housing Investment, Capitalist Income, Inter-Generational Wealth Gap

Social Care Program Subsidies

Political Cost: Implement 5
Cost Range: ₣260M to ₣5,650M
Implementing will

Increase: Retired Opinion, Retired Income, Socialist Opinion, National Health

Decrease: Capitalist Opinion, Unemployment, Healthcare Demand

State Childcare Services and Subsidies

Political Cost: Implement 16
Cost Range: ₣200M to ₣2,650M
Implementing will

Increase: Parent Opinion, Worker Productivity, Parent Identity, Parent Income, Population Growth, Socialist Identity, Gender Equality

Decrease: Capitalist Opinion, Unemployment

State Housing Program

Political Cost: Implement 13
Cost Range: Up to ₣3,000M
Implementing will

Increase: Poor Opinion, Income Equality, Poor Class Income, Middle Class Income, Socialist Opinion, Socialist Identity

Decrease: Capitalist Opinion, Poverty, Private Housing Investment, Homelessness Crisis

State Pension Program

Political Cost: Implement 19
Cost Range: ₣2,000M to ₣21,000M
Implementing will

Increase: Socialist Opinion, Retired Opinion, Poor Opinion, Retired Income, Socialist Identity, Retired Identity, Inter-Generational Wealth Gap

Decrease: Capitalist Opinion, Poverty, Private Pensions

Synthetic Meat Research Program

Political Cost: Implement 23
Cost Range: Up to ₣900M
Implementing will

Increase: Environmentalist Opinion, Vegetarianism

Decrease: Food Price Crisis, Farmer Opinion, Farmer Income, Farmer Identity

Tobacco Awareness Media Campaign

Political Cost: Implement 2
Cost Range: Up to ₣52M
Implementing will

Decrease: Tobacco Usage

Unemployment Payment

Political Cost: Implement 25
Cost Range: ₣300M to ₣3,750M
Implementing will

Increase: Poor Opinion, Poor Class Income, Socialist Identity, Socialist Opinion, Unemployment

Decrease: Capitalist Opinion, Poverty, Homelessness Crisis

Universal Basic Income Payment

Political Cost: Implement 30
Cost Range: ₣13,500M to ₣50,000M
Implementing will

Increase: Socialist Opinion, Wages, Socialist Identity, Everyone's Income

Decrease: Capitalist Opinion, Poverty, Charitable Contributions

Welfare Fraud Investigation Department

Political Cost: Implement 4
Cost Range: ₣80M to ₣150M
Implementing will

Increase: Conservative Opinion, Middle Class Income

Decrease: Poor Opinion