The impact of massive cuts in central government funding of local government since 2010 has been ‘destructive and debilitating’ for women.
This is according to a March 2019 report from the Women’s Budget Group (pdf) on the impact of local government cuts on women.
The report finds that central government cuts to local government funding have caused a ‘triple whammy’ for women: local government is responsible for many of the services on which women disproportionately depend; when services are cut many women have to increase their unpaid work to fill the gaps; and women are disproportionately likely to work in local authorities and schools, so are hit harder when jobs, pay and conditions are cut.
The report also highlights that:
- Black and ethnic minority women are the worst hit by austerity
- Central government funding for local authorities in England fell by 49% between 2010/11 and 2017/18
- The annual funding gap is estimated to grow to £7.8 billion by 2025
- Despite growing demand and widespread unmet need, social care spending fell by 3% between 2010/11 and 2016/17
- Social care now accounts for 54% of all local authority spend
- There was a 32.6% reduction in spending on all other services between 2010/11 and 2016/17
- Almost all cuts in services for the most disadvantaged have fallen in the most deprived 20% of councils.