Emma Congreve

Poverty and Tax Conference - SPA Tax and Social Policy Group The Social Policy Association's Tax and Social Policy Group's annual conference is on the theme of Poverty and Tax.

The Social Policy Association’s Tax and Social Policy Group are holding an event on Tax and Poverty on the 5th December in Glasgow.

More info and link to register here:

www.eventbrite.com/e/poverty-an...

Recorded at the Fraser of Allander 50th Anniversary Conference, the Technology Innovation Centre, September 19th 2025. Featuring: Emma Congreve (SHERU Co-Lead and Deputy Director of the Fraser of… 2025 Inequality Landscape Report Launch

⚕️ 2025 Inequality Landscape Report Launch 📝

Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=a45p...

We suggest there have been modest gains in some living-standards, but this is set against persistent, and in places deepening, structural inequalities that continue to drive poor health.

I wanted to note the passing of David Gow. For me, and others at the FAI, he has been a champion of our work and generously offered support to me as a relatively younger economist working in Scotland. Always kind and generous and never patronising. He will be sadly missed.

Public perceptions of the UK tax system - Carnegie UK

Interesting new report from Carnegie UK on public perceptions of the UK tax system: carnegieuk.org/publication/...

Policy "blind spot" driving Scottish men from poor homes to early grave Shocking report slates Scottish Government for failing to build for future success with joined-up policies to reverse our nation's shameful record on drugs, alcohol and suicide deaths

See coverage of today's report from SHERU on how younger adult men, at risk of deaths from drugs, alcohol and suicide, are a 'policy blindspot':

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/policy-...

1/7 This morning we launched our 2025 Inequality Landscape report at the Fraser of Allander Institute 50th Anniversary conference #FAI50

Do out-of-work benefits tell us who is out of work? In short: no. A great blog from our new colleague at FAI, Spencer Thompson explains it all.

1/7 New stats from @NatRecordsScot show 1017 drug misuse deaths in Scotland in 2024. That’s down 13% from 2023 - the lowest level since 2017. A welcome shift but drug deaths remain far higher in Scotland than elsewhere in Europe & are deeply tied to poverty and inequality.

Prevention Watch August 2025 - Scottish Health Equity Research Unit Prevention Watch is a regular Scottish Health Equity Research Unit (SHERU) briefing that looks at prevention as a means of public service delivery to reduce health inequalities in Scotland.

This edition looks at Responses to the Population Health Framework and Public Sector Reform strategies; England’s 10-year health plan; the two-child limit in Scotland; and draft environment strategy consultations.

Take a look here: scothealthequity.org/prevention-w...

Why employment figures aren't up to the job Unemployment in Scotland is down while it has risen in the rest of the UK, but can the figures be trusted?

Really good to see this from @douglasffraser.bsky.social on the labour market. The stats can't tell us what we need to know at the moment - which is a big problem for policy making on issues such as inactivity. More people need to be aware of the issues.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

At @easp-spa-2025.bsky.social and interested in the intersection between tax and social policy?

Come along to our sessions:

3pm Thursday (SLB/102): Symposium on poverty, inequality and the role of taxes in social policy

9am Friday (SLB/118): Roundtable on tax & Labour's first year in power

SHERU Response: Population Health Framework - Scottish Health Equity Research Unit Released 17 June 2025, the Scottish Government–COSLA Population Health Framework champions primary prevention and whole-system collaboration to narrow Scotland’s socioeconomic health gap. Its…

The new Population Health Framework rightly backs prevention and whole-system work to cut health inequalities—but most actions stay within health policy, with fewer concrete x-government efforts on social determinants like housing.

Read our response: scothealthequity.org/sheru-respon...

International Models of Primary Prevention: Lessons for Scotland In this webinar, SHERU will speak with experts in primary prevention models from Ireland and Iceland.

To learn from experts in those areas and hear our early insight into the PHF, sign up here: buff.ly/JzxcIkI

A lot of people will be considering the impacts of the Spending Review today. Our latest paper looks at the effects of previous governments' decisions on spending and delves into the impact of austerity on health inequalities in Scotland and the UK. A thread:

Weekly update: UK-EU deal, public sector pay and U-turns | FAI It’s been a busy week of events and announcements. The week kicked off with an announcement on a UK-EU trade deal. Some of the details on this are…

In this week's update: a flurry of announcements, from a UK-EU trade deal to public sector pay awards to winter fuel U-turns.

Read all about what they mean below:

fraserofallander.org/weekly-updat...

A new edition of @scothealtheq.bsky.social Prevention Watch is out today. Covering the PfG, the SFC Fiscal Sustainability Report and much more!

PFG Reaction | FAI The First Minister unveils the Programme for Government for the year running up to the Holyrood election

The First Minister unveils the Programme for Government for the year running up to the Holyrood election fraserofallander.org/pfg-reaction/

Important new analysis from @scothealtheq.bsky.social‬, who we support, looking at the latest child poverty data in Scotland. The data presents a mixed picture, with uneven progress on reducing poverty across different groups and regions.

Read more and sign up to tomorrow's webinar ⬇

Join us for our webinar, "A Future at Risk: Child Poverty and Health Inequalities in Scotland"

ft. @chirstyresearch.bsky.social @hlrandolph.bsky.social and Ruth Dundas on child poverty in Scotland and its relationship with health inequality.

Sign up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-future-a...

Child poverty stats for 2023/24 are out today. Child poverty fell on three of four main measures, but ultimately missed the interim targets.

Some highlights from our blog post below 👇 (1/7)

buff.ly/Gl9Cd22

We spoke to 24 people in Scotland with a learning disability to understand their experiences of money, benefits and care. This video highlights some of their... Financial Security of People with Learning Disabilities in Scotland

Today we are sharing our findings on learning disabilities and financial security. We spoke to 24 people in Scotland with a learning disability to understand their experiences. The video below highlights some of their stories. (1/7) buff.ly/km7dmTR

Weekly update: announcements galore | FAI We are in the midst of a flurry of announcements and releases from the UK and Scottish Governments. Earlier in the week, we responded to the Welfare…

In this week's update: a preview of the Spring Statement, a spotlight on our learning disabilities and financial security research, and next week's child poverty stats release. Read more below:

This was a great event and a great blog summarising some of the issues raised and grappled with

SHERU response to the UKG Green Paper on changes to health and disability benefits - Scottish Health Equity Research Unit The Green Paper on ill health and disability welfare reform published on the 18th March follows weeks of media speculation on UK Government changes to incapacity and disability benefits. While full…

The Green Paper on ill health and disability welfare reform published on the 18th March follows weeks of media speculation on UK Government changes to incapacity and disability benefits.

Read our response here:

Wealth disparities and health inequalities - Scottish Health Equity Research Unit Two new studies of the health impacts of cash transfers reach conflicting conclusions. Are there lessons for Scottish efforts to improve health and reduce health inequalities?

1/5 🧵 Wealth disparities & health inequalities: what does the latest research tell us?

A new study from Norway finds that people with lower wealth at age 37-38 have significantly higher mortality rates before 62. We explore what this means for Scotland. #HealthInequality #Wealth

Weekly update - The welfare bill under pressure | FAI an explainer to get people up to speed on the benefits in scope and what has been happening in recent years on incapacity and disability benefits

We have heard this week that the UK Government Chancellor Rachel Reeves intends to make cuts to the welfare bill.

Here we produce a bit of an explainer to get people up to speed on the benefits in scope and what has been happening in recent years.

Tax & Social Policy Group (Social Policy Association) on LinkedIn: Social Policy Association and East Asian Social Policy Research Network -… The Social Policy Association’s Tax and Social Policy Group would like to hear from anyone who is hoping to present a paper which involves a tax dimension at…

We are looking to offer a symposium on tax and social policy at this year's @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social conference. We'd love to hear from you if you plan to present a paper which involves a tax dimension.

Contact sruane@dmu.ac.uk by Friday 7th March.

More info:

www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

Shoplifting seagull chased from Aberdeen shop Aberdeen's shoplifting seagulls are back - swooping in to steal crisps from a late night shop.

At last! It's been far too long since a seagull story made the BBC news in Scotland. Throwback to the seagull stealing crisps story of 2016

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scot...

Shoplifting seagull chased from Aberdeen shop Aberdeen's shoplifting seagulls are back - swooping in to steal crisps from a late night shop.

At last! It's been far too long since a seagull story made the BBC news in Scotland. Throwback to the seagull stealing crisps story of 2016

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scot...

Podcast: Scottish Health Equity Research Unit - an introduction | FAI Co-leads for the Scottish Health Equity Research Unit (SHERU) – Deputy Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute Emma Congreve, and the Centre for Health Policy’s Professor Katherine Smith – have…

On the latest episode of the @fraserofallander.org podcast, co-leads @emmanomics.bsky.social and @profkatsmith.bsky.social have a candid discussion about the origins of the unit, the historical context behind research in health inequalities, and SHERU’s future goals.

Listen here: