This thoroughly revised and expanded new edition provides a comprehensive introduction to contemporary social policy and addresses its historical, theoretical and contextual foundations.

1. Introducing Social Policy; Part 1: Context; 2. The Socio-economic Context of Social Policy; 3. The Politics and Governance of Social Policy; 4. Paying for the Welfare State and Taxation in the UK. 5. Devolution and Social Policy; 6. Research, Evidence and Social Policy; Part 2: The Development of Social Policy; 7. The Development of Social policy, 1800-1945; 8. Conservative Governments and the Welfare State since 1945; 9. Labour Governments and the Welfare State since 1945; Part 3: Themes and Issues; 10. Income Maintenance, Taxation, Pensions; 11. Employment and Labour Market Reforms: Towards a Residual Safety Net? 12. Education; 13. Adult Health and Social Care; 14. Social Policy and Class; 15. Children and Families; 16. Youth Justice: Changing Institutions, Changing Contexts; 17. Health Policy; 18. Housing Policy; 19. 'Race', Ethnicity and Social Policy; 20. Gender and Social Policy; 21. Disability and Social Policy; Part 4: European and International Developments; 22. The European Union and Social Policy; 23. Globalisation and Social Policy; 24. Conclusions