Reasons for Labour Reforms
Who was William Beveridge?
Expert of social welfare who identified the 5 Giants in his report (known as the Beveridge Report) in 1942.
What were the 5 Giants?
Disease, squalor, ignorance, idleness, want
What is one reform to tackle DISEASE and one benefit of it?
National Health Service Act (NHS) (1948)
- For first time, people could access free health care regardless of social status
- Medical, dental, and optical services were all free
- Health visiting/provision for the elderly
What is one DRAWBACK for the reform to help tackle DISEASE?
National Health Service Act (NHS) (1948)
- Many of the hospitals were old and out of date.
- It was overwhelmed with patients requiring treatment.
- The government had to bring in charges for prescriptions, dental care and spectacles which meant it wasn’t the free service it was hoped to be.
How did bombing change attitudes to poverty?
People of all background were forced to shelter together against bombing, meaning they had more time to talk to each other and better understand each other. Upper class/richer people got a better idea of how people in poverty really lived because they were seeing it up close.
Poorer children from inner cities were evacuated to the countryside, where they would live with a richer family. This showed the richer family just how bad the conditions of poverty were as children showed up in old, tattered clothes and without many belongings.
Education Act (Butler Act, 1944)
- Secondary education became compulsory until the age of 15.
- Provided meals, milk and medical services at every school.
What is one DRAWBACK of the reform to tackle IGNORANCE?
- More primary schools than secondary schools built
- Two-tiered secondary schooling (grammar vs. secondary modern schools) determined by 11+ exam
Who was the head of the Labour government at the time of the reforms?
Clement Attlee
What does 'cradle to the grave' mean?
The government should care from people from the cradle (from birth) to the grave (until they die). So, the government should care for someone throughout their whole life.
What is one reform to tackle WANT and one benefit of it?
National Insurance Act (1946)
- Provided cover for those who needed it most.
- Considered affordable
National Assistance Act (1948)
- "Safety net” for those who missed out on National Insurance cover because they were unemployed or hadn’t made enough contributions yet.
- One off payments could be given for essentials (bedding, clothing, etc)
What is one reform to tackle SQUALOR and one benefit of it?
Housing Acts 1946/1949
- Local authorities given financial assistance and access to building materials to build 1.25 million new permanent homes
New Towns Act (1946)
- 12 new towns were built across Britain providing clean safe homes away from the old overcrowded and war damaged cities.
What country did Britain model their Welfare State after?
Give 2 reasons why the Beveridge Report was so influential.
1.Revolutionary ideas- the government could and should fight the 5 giants.
2.Principle that people were entitled to benefits.
3.The same for everyone.
Nationalisation
- The government could use tax money to keep a “nationalised” business going even if it was a failure.
- They could keep people employed and paying their tax and National Insurance contribution.
- By 1946, national unemployment was only 2.5%
Why did some doctors oppose the creation of the NHS?
- Didn't want to work for the government
- Worried about being overwhelmed by patients
- Worried about making less money
Give one DRAWBACK of the reforms to tackle IDLENESS.
Nationalisation
- Was very costly
- Wages and working conditions did not massively improve
Give one drawback for the reform to tackle SQUALOR.
New Towns Act (1946)
- New towns were soulless and left working class families cut off from other areas due to lack of transport
Housing Acts
- The 200,000 houses per year target was not met and some people remained in “prefab” homes, army barracks and even train carriages by the end of 1951.