The Welfare StateThe Welfare State

The War: Equality of SacrificeThe War: Equality of Sacrifice Both rich and poor suffered from Both rich and poor suffered from

bombsbombs Civilians lost their livesCivilians lost their lives Homes were destroyedHomes were destroyed Rationing applied to everyone, Rationing applied to everyone,

regardless of social classregardless of social class Women and men of all classes did Women and men of all classes did

war work togetherwar work together

The Welfare StateThe Welfare State After the war, William After the war, William

Beveridge identified Beveridge identified fivefive issues that needed to be issues that needed to be tackled to make a better tackled to make a better Britain: 5 giantsBritain: 5 giants

To achieve his aims, To achieve his aims, Beveridge proposed the Beveridge proposed the introduction of a welfare introduction of a welfare state. state.

The Five Giants & the The Five Giants & the creation of the Welfare creation of the Welfare

StateState

The Five GiantsThe Five Giants

Beveridge slaying the 5 Beveridge slaying the 5 G’sG’s

Founding Principles of Welfare StateFounding Principles of Welfare State

IgnoranceIgnorance

SqualorSqualor

IdlenessIdleness

WantWant

DiseaseDisease

EducationEducation

HousingHousing

EmploymentEmployment

IncomeIncome

HealthHealth

Welfare state: the government plays a key Welfare state: the government plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its economic and social well-being of its citizens. citizens.

The Beveridge Report started the Welfare The Beveridge Report started the Welfare State in Britain in 1945 to address each of State in Britain in 1945 to address each of the 5 Giants.the 5 Giants.

It would provide security ‘from the cradle to It would provide security ‘from the cradle to the grave’. the grave’.

Squalor/HousingSqualor/Housing Council housing introduced at the end Council housing introduced at the end

of the nineteenth Century but high of the nineteenth Century but high demand and slumsdemand and slums

Housing provided by local authorities Housing provided by local authorities & setting up of new towns in the & setting up of new towns in the coutnrysidecoutnryside

made sure that anyone who could not made sure that anyone who could not afford to buy or wish to buy, could afford to buy or wish to buy, could have a comfortable home.have a comfortable home.

Squalor/HousingSqualor/Housing However, worryingHowever, worrying lack of available lack of available council housing council housing throughout the throughout the country.country. In Scotland alone, last year, 142,000 In Scotland alone, last year, 142,000

households were on waiting lists for social households were on waiting lists for social housing.housing.

Ignorance/EducationIgnorance/Education Secondary education was only available to Secondary education was only available to

those who could pay or who passed a those who could pay or who passed a scholarship at the age of 11. scholarship at the age of 11.

Most children left school at the end of Most children left school at the end of elementary education when they were 14. elementary education when they were 14.

Ignorance/EducationIgnorance/Education 1944 education act 1944 education act Leaving age up from 14 to 15.Leaving age up from 14 to 15. All children get secondary education without All children get secondary education without

paying fees.paying fees.HoweverHowever Student debt levels are risingStudent debt levels are rising School dropouts rate higher in certain School dropouts rate higher in certain

communities or places communities or places Education quality differs according to social Education quality differs according to social

class and incomeclass and income

Idleness/EmploymentIdleness/Employment After the war, there was work for After the war, there was work for

everyone as Britain rebuilt itself. everyone as Britain rebuilt itself. By 1946, unemployment was By 1946, unemployment was

reduced to 2.5 % reduced to 2.5 % However huge post-war problems However huge post-war problems

such as shortages of raw materials such as shortages of raw materials and massive war debts. and massive war debts.

Idleness/EmploymentIdleness/Employment Government nationalised some Government nationalised some

industries and supported industries in industries and supported industries in high areas of unemployment. high areas of unemployment.

Objective : providing full employment Objective : providing full employment for all working age citizens.for all working age citizens.

Unemployment benefits (to be held to Unemployment benefits (to be held to a subsistence level)a subsistence level)

Disease/HealthDisease/Health A National Health A National Health

Service was set up Service was set up ‘free at the point of ‘free at the point of use’ and available to use’ and available to all. all.

The NHS 1948The NHS 1948 Principles:

- Free medical services- Free medical services- Every citizen is registered - Every citizen is registered with a GP (General with a GP (General Practioners)Practioners)- Visits to GP are free, GP’s - Visits to GP are free, GP’s salary paid by NHSsalary paid by NHS- Patient goes to GP of - Patient goes to GP of Residence AreaResidence Area- Symbolic fee for drugs (5 - Symbolic fee for drugs (5 £)£)

The NHSThe NHS However

- Charges for dental & - Charges for dental & ophthalmic careophthalmic care

Problem for patients:Problem for patients:Time factor: Time factor: over 18 months for hip or eye over 18 months for hip or eye

surgerysurgery

The NHSThe NHSProblem for Government:Problem for Government:

Cost of the system, modern Cost of the system, modern medical techniques and medical techniques and medication.medication.

Ageing population requiring Ageing population requiring more medical care.more medical care.

POVERTY:Social SecurityPOVERTY:Social Security ServicesServices : :

- Retirement pensions- Retirement pensions- Unemployment benefits- Unemployment benefits- Income support, etc. 5s a - Income support, etc. 5s a week for each child after the week for each child after the first.first.

Developments:Developments:- 1980’s major changes in the - 1980’s major changes in the system -> less generoussystem -> less generous- Benefits proportionate to - Benefits proportionate to earningsearnings

ProblemsProblems Unemployment benefit said to Unemployment benefit said to

discourage workdiscourage work Notion of “Deserving poor” Notion of “Deserving poor” Single parents forced back to Single parents forced back to

workwork Less social aids for the poor and Less social aids for the poor and

the needythe needy Exclusion of the UnderclassExclusion of the Underclass