2A - Provision of Social Welfare, 1945-1979 Flashcards
What did the Labour manifesto ‘Let us face the future’ do in 1945?
Made a connection between social welfare and economic success - healthy educated workers would produce economic efficiency
How did Labour do in 1945 as a result of their advocation of state welfare provision?
Landslide victory under CA
What did the Family Allowances Act in 1945 ensure?
child benefits, 25p a week for each child after the first, benefit payable to the mother meaning mothers could ensure child was provided for
What did the National Insurance Act 1946 ensure?
25p weekly charge on all incomes, made unemployment and sickness benefit available to all workers, paid state pension to all men over 65 and all women over 60. No means tests.
What did the Narional Assistance Act 1948 ensure?
Offered welfare to those not covered by National Insurance - homeless, disabled, unmarried mothers. Abolished Public Assistance
What did the Industrial Injuries Act 1946 ensure?
gave workers the right for compensation for accidents and injuries in the workplace
When was the NHS introduced?
1948
What did Harold Macmillan believe in?
believed that the UC and MC had a moral responsibility to provide for the poor. He also knew that cuts to welfare would be unpopular and make Conservatives unelectable
How did GB’s welfare state compare to other countries in the PW period?
GB still spent less on welfare through 1950s than France and Germany.
Did welfare end poverty in the PW period?
No - 1965 Child Poverty Action Group claimed 720,000 children were living in poverty. Increasing welfare costs led to debate over their effectiveness
How did Labour approach welfare in 1964 election and what problems did they face?
Promised to increase welfare spending but realised an £800 billion budget deficit had been concealed due to overspending on military and welfare and mass consumerism
By 1966, how much had welfare costs risen?
Welfare costs had risen to 5% of GDP
What was the National Insurance Act of 1970?
Pension rights given to 100,000 more people
Attendance allowance introduced for people who needed LT care at home
Invalidity benefit
Child allowance increased
Rent subsidies available for low income earners
What did the Torys argue relating to welfare in the 1970s?
welfare state was leading to a reduction of individual freedom. Believed that the growth of the state and increased taxes restricted the freedom of GB citizens
What did RW people at the Think Tank Institute of Econmic Affairs argue in the 1970s?
Opposed welfare spending on the grounds of economic efficiency. They argued that the government would spend money less efficiently than private business.
