The Welfare State

• After the war, William Beveridge identified five issues that needed to be tackled to make a better Britain.

• 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

The proposal for a welfare state

• In 1942, the Liberal politician William Beveridge declared that there were five "giants on the road to reconstruction":

• poverty• disease• ignorance• squalor• idleness• To defeat these giants, he proposed setting

up a welfare state with social security, a national health service, free education, council housing and full employment.

DISEASE – The NHS

• National Health Service Act 5 July 1948 (NHS).

• Principles:

- Free medical services

- Every citizen is registered with a GP (General Practioners)

- Symbolic fee for drugs (5 £)

- Free surgery

-Charges for dental & ophthalmic care

Problems

• 1980’s and 1990’s Legislation to introduce market forces to the system

• Time factor (years for eye/wipoperation)

• Growing cost of the Welfare state

• Modern medical techniques

• Ageing population: needing 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

Problems

• Notion of “Deserving poor”

• Unemployment benefit said to discourage work

• Single parents forced back to work

• Less social aids for the poor and the needy

• Exclusion of the Underclass