Issue 4: The Labour ReformsHow effective were the

Labour Reforms?Lesson starter:Think of the benefits system we have in Britain today.

Write down any problems you can see with our system.

Today we will…

• Assess how well the Labour government dealt the issue of poverty after WWII

I can…

• Write an 8 mark essay on the successes and failures of the Labour Reforms 1945-51 under exam conditions

• This final part of the topic will involve us assessing how well the Labour Reforms dealt with the problems of post-war Britain

• We need to talk about the positive things they achieved

• We also need to talk about how they were limited – they didn’t solve every problem

National Insurance/ National Insurance/ National Assistance/ National Assistance/

Industrial InjuriesIndustrial Injuries• These reforms rescued

many families from poverty. • In York, the Joseph

Rowntree Foundation estimated that in 1950 only 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line

• Without the new welfare benefits 22.2% of the population would have been below the poverty line.

National Insurance/ National Insurance/ National Assistance/ National Assistance/

Industrial InjuriesIndustrial Injuries• National Insurance -There

were some restrictions i.e. you had to pay 165 contributions to receive sickness benefit

• National Assistance – Many more people than anticipated applied , such as the elderly – cost more than expected

• Industrial Injuries – benefits were only a fraction of a skilled worker’s wage

The NHSThe NHS• In the first year doctor's surgeries were packed full and by 1950, 17 million people got glasses and 9 million false teeth.

• Maternity care and child welfare services led to big improvements in children’s health.

• NHS vaccinations wiped out many childhood killer diseases, eg TB, Polio, and Diphtheria.

• Life expectancy increased after the NHS was set up.

• People now had access to basic health services free at the point of need.

• Seen as the 'jewel in the crown' of the welfare state.

The NHSThe NHS• The plan to pay for the NHS

from National Insurance contributions did not work and 90% of the cost had to be paid for from ordinary taxes.

• By 1950 costs were so high that the principle of free treatment had to be revised and prescriptions were introduced. Bevan resigned in protest.

• Hospitals were old and not suitable for modern health care, financial pressures meant old hospitals were not replaced until the 1960s.

Housing ReformHousing Reform• Around 700,000 council

houses were built between 1945 and 1951 to provide good quality family accommodation at a reasonable rent.

• The demolition of city slums and the new council housing estates offered a brighter future for those who lived in them.

• Some of the new towns were very successful 'people friendly' towns, for example East Kilbride.

Housing Housing ReformReform

• Due to huge demand quantity rather than quality became a priority.

• Sometimes decent homes were demolished to make way for new estates – just because they were ‘in the way’

• Some of the 'New Towns' were less successful, for example Cumbernauld, which suffered high unemployment and poverty.

• Some postwar ‘schemes’ like Easterhouse were unpopular because there was a lack of facilities and amenities

• Despite these efforts there were still shortages and families in London were forced to squat - find abandoned houses and stay in them illegally.

Overall Assessment – Overall Assessment – Labour ReformsLabour Reforms

• An Overall Success – why?• Although poverty was not

eliminated it was reduced. • A system of universal social

insurance provided a welfare state.

• A safety net was introduced to ensure basic provision for all.

• View 2• Overall - A Failure – why?• It has led to dependency on the

state culture. • Cost is a major factor, especially

in relation to the NHS which faces rising costs and demand every year.

• They failed to address housing needs fully.

8 mark essay 8 mark essay assessmentassessment

“The Labour Reforms of 1945-51 met the needs of people from the cradle to the Grave”. How accurate is this view?

8 marks

Introduction…2 marksIntroduction…2 marks

During the years 1945-51 the Labour government introduced a serious of reforms in areas such as housing. These were to combat the ‘Five Giants’ of want, squalor, idleness, ignorance and disease. The reforms had many successes such as the creation of the NHS however there were also some areas where the reforms did not completely meet the needs of the people.

Context Factors

Paragraph Plan

1. Introduction2. National Insurance OR National

Assistance OR Industrial Injuries3. The NHS4. Housing Reform5. Overall assessment success/failure6. ConclusionRemember each paragraph should describe

the reform and discuss the good and bad points of each.

Example paragraph…Example paragraph…

In 1946 the Labour government introduced the National Insurance Act. People paid contributions through their wage which provided old age pensions, unemployment benefits and family allowance. On the one hand this was positive because it rescued many families from poverty and kept them above the poverty line such as in York where people living below the poverty line was reduced by almost 20%. On the other hand, people had to contribute a great deal to receive the benefit, such as making 165 contributions to receive sickness benefit.

Conclusion…1 markConclusion…1 mark

In conclusion, the Labour Reforms met peoples’ needs to an extent. They reduced the amount of people living beneath the poverty line. They also failed to meet the needs of all because some NHS charges had to be introduced such as those for glasses and prescriptions.