Abundant research shows that it is both more effective and cheaper to prevent social and wellbeing issues than to intervene once they have developed. Scotland made considerable progress during the 2010s in rebalancing policy and public services towards prevention through, for example, the embedding of a public health approach to violence and the establishment of the Early Years Collaborative. At a time of pandemic and economic uncertainty, it becomes ever more crucial that local and national government continues to focus on preventive spend and policy development. Committees should investigate what steps local and national government are taking to develop and support joined up preventive approaches across a whole range of policy issues including health, education and law and order.
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