1st year lecture 7 welfare in the uk

The Welfare State

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

bombs Civilians lost their lives Homes were destroyed Rationing applied to everyone,

regardless of social class Women and men of all classes did

war work together

The Welfare State After the war, William

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

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

The Five Giants & the creation of the Welfare

State

The Five Giants

Beveridge slaying the 5 G’s

Founding Principles of Welfare State

Ignorance

Squalor

Idleness

Want

Disease

Education

Housing

Employment

Income

Health

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

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

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

Squalor/Housing Council housing introduced at the

end of the nineteenth Century but high demand and slums

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

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

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

households were on waiting lists for social housing.

Ignorance/Education Secondary education was only available to

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

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

Ignorance/Education 1944 education act Leaving age up from 14 to 15. All children get secondary education

without paying fees.However Student debt levels are rising School dropouts rate higher in

certain communities or places Education quality differs according to

social class and income

Idleness/Employment After the war, there was work for

everyone as Britain rebuilt itself. By 1946, unemployment was

reduced to 2.5 % However huge post-war problems

such as shortages of raw materials and massive war debts.

Idleness/Employment Government nationalised some

industries and supported industries in high areas of unemployment. – Nationalized coal mines, railways…

Objective : providing full employment for all working age citizens.

Unemployment benefits (to be held to a subsistence level), now called Jobseeker’s Allowance

Disease/Health A National Health

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

The NHS 1948 Principles:

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

The NHS However

- Charges for dental & ophthalmic care

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

surgery

The NHSProblem for Government:

Cost of the system, modern medical techniques and medication.

Ageing population requiring more medical care.

POVERTY:Social Security Services :

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

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

Unemployment vs Jobseeker’s Allowance

ProblemsUnemployment benefit said to

discourage workNotion of “Deserving poor” Single parents forced back to

workLess social aids for the poor and

the needyExclusion of the Underclass