Wellbeing: Terms of Reference

How best to improve the quality of life of all people should be the central question for any government. Whilst the debate over how terms such as General Wellbeing (GWB), and Happiness should be defined and then enhanced has been taking place within academic circles for some time, it has yet to become an integral part of the policymaking process. This must change.

What we are aiming for is a new approach to solving the challenges our society faces. Central to this is seeking to understand what is most important to people in their everyday lives. This is a complex and multi-dimensional area, but a number of common themes emerge from the wealth of literature in this area. These include: job security; work-life balance; direct democracy; mental health; identity and belonging; the local environment; and the impact of materialism on society. The relationships we maintain with our families, friends and the communities in which we live are the core of this approach. Every element of policy-making should have a positive impact on our wellbeing, but the present government has failed to put quality of life at the heart of its thinking.

The Wellbeing group has two key tasks. First, to pose key questions to the other working groups in the Quality of Life Commission e.g. transport, energy, waste and food, farming and rural affairs, built environment should consider when formulating policy. Second, to make specific policy recommendations in the key areas the group is covering.

To achieve these goals we must start by asking the right questions. What matters most to us? How do we protect and build upon our uniquely British values of caring and compassion, community and cooperative action, diversity and discourse in contrast to the overwhelming tide of individualism? How do we ensure that ordinary people feel that they are part of the decision-making process that affects their daily lives at the most local level? How do we ensure that communities feel connected to their neighbours and to the environment in which they live?

The Conservative Party does not claim to have all the answers to these questions. But what we are determined to do is to develop an approach to thinking as well as a specific set of policy recommendations which is grounded in solid research and analysis. You are vital to this and we would greatly value your input in this exciting and challenging process. The team comprises a highly skilled group of ten individuals with a broad range of experience, all of whom contribute their time on a voluntary basis. This is supplemented by evidence presented by experts in the form of written submissions or interviews.

The areas the group is examining include:

• Work and Economic Issues:
Subject areas: Work/Life balance, stress in the workplace, flexible working hours and economic policies to support the self-employed and Small and Medium Sized enterprises (SME’s).

• Freedom and local democracy:
Subject areas: bringing decision-making back to the people, direct involvement of voters in the policy formulation process through the use of referenda and other mechanisms.

• Mental Health and Happiness:
Subject Areas: The cost on the economy of poor mental health causes by anxiety and stress or clinical depression. An examination of the importance of relationships and family stability on wellbeing and how these can be developed.

• Identity and Belonging:
Subject areas: A sense of belonging, a sense of purpose, connection with local community, family and personal values, British identity.

• Environment and Community:
Subject areas: Access to open space, urban environments and impact on wellbeing, access to community facilities (libraries, recreation, post office, local shop, doctor, dentist, public transport), role of planning to help increase wellbeing in renewal of cities, social isolation and wellbeing for people living in rural areas the elderly and young people.

• Consumption, downshifting and materialism:
Subject areas: The impact of materialism and over consumption on wellbeing. The impact and benefits of downshifting. All of these are being examined under the overarching theme that government should measure what matters to people.

MEASURING WHAT MATTERS TO PEOPLE

One of the fundamental issues of moving our country forward towards a better quality of life for all is based on the premise: what we count what matters. What we decide to measure reflects our values and vision as a society. It determines what we see on the news, what we talk about at work, the discussions you might have at home with your family or down the pub with your friends and ultimately what makes it onto the policy agendas of governments.

We are bombarded with information on a daily basis from a variety of sources about whether the unemployment figures have gone up or the pound has fallen against the dollar. Every month we hear about shifts in our gross domestic product (GDP). Even small changes in the GDP send an adrenaline rush down the veins of policy makers and columnists who hurry to their keyboards. So what is wrong with that? Well given that the most influential national lens we use to measure our progress and wellbeing as a country is confined to a narrow set of economic indicators, this often results in inaccurate and skewed signals being sent to policy makers. GDP was never intended to be anything other than a narrow measure of the size of the economy and the total quantity of economic activity. It was never intended to taken as a proxy for national progress of our quality of life and wellbeing.

The simple reality is that measurements of economic growth do not make any distinction between activities that bring benefits and those that cause harm. If cutting down trees, endangering forests and over-fishing make the economy grow, GDP counts the depletion of our natural wealth as if it were economic gain. GDP also tells us how much total income we are producing, but tells us nothing about how that income is distributed. So the economy can grow even if middle and low-income Britons are getting poorer.

For all these reasons policy priorities have often been distorted by this Government which has been detrimental to the majority of the population. But until now we have not been presented with a clear and coherent alternative. We need a measure that will help shine a spotlight on how the strategic allocation of economic resources ‘upstream’ will reduce the need for expensive health care and social services ‘downstream’. In other words, it will focus on getting things right at the outset.

Quality of Life is fundamental to us all and is one of the foundations of the Conservative Party’s drive towards an environmentally conscious agenda. Seeking to enhance the wellbeing of all citizens is absolutely central to our vision and goes hand in glove with protecting and enhancing the environment. Future generations will not forgive us if we fail to address these issues with determination and vision.