This is November's lecture on welfare in the UK, as part of the British civ course for first year English sutdents at ISLN

1. The Welfare StateThe Welfare State

2. The War: Equality of SacrificeThe War: Equality of Sacrifice
 Both rich and poor suffered fromBoth rich and poor suffered from
bombsbombs
 Civilians lost their livesCivilians lost their lives
 Homes were destroyedHomes were destroyed
 Rationing applied to everyone,Rationing applied to everyone,
regardless of social classregardless of social class
 Women and men of all classes didWomen and men of all classes did
war work togetherwar work together

3. The Welfare StateThe Welfare State
 After the war, WilliamAfter the war, William
Beveridge identifiedBeveridge identified fivefive
issues that needed to beissues that needed to be
tackled to make a bettertackled to make a better
Britain: 5 giantsBritain: 5 giants
 To achieve his aims,To achieve his aims,
Beveridge proposed theBeveridge proposed the
introduction of a welfareintroduction of a welfare
state.state.

4. The Five Giants & the creationThe Five Giants & the creation
of the Welfare Stateof the Welfare State

5. The Five GiantsThe Five Giants
Beveridge slaying the 5 G’sBeveridge slaying the 5 G’s

6. Founding Principles of Welfare StateFounding Principles of Welfare State
 IgnoranceIgnorance
 SqualorSqualor
 IdlenessIdleness
 WantWant
 DiseaseDisease
 EducationEducation
 HousingHousing
 EmploymentEmployment
 IncomeIncome
 HealthHealth

7. Welfare state: the government plays a keyWelfare state: the government plays a key
role in the protection and promotion of therole in the protection and promotion of the
economic and social well-being of itseconomic and social well-being of its
citizens.citizens.
The Beveridge Report started the WelfareThe Beveridge Report started the Welfare
State in Britain in 1945 to address each ofState in Britain in 1945 to address each of
the 5 Giants.the 5 Giants.
It would provide security ‘from the cradle toIt would provide security ‘from the cradle to
the grave’.the grave’.

8. Squalor/HousingSqualor/Housing
 Council housing introduced at theCouncil housing introduced at the
end of the nineteenth Century butend of the nineteenth Century but
high demand and slumshigh demand and slums
 Housing provided by local authoritiesHousing provided by local authorities
& setting up of new towns in the& setting up of new towns in the
coutnrysidecoutnryside
 made sure that anyone who couldmade sure that anyone who could
not afford to buy or wish to buy,not afford to buy or wish to buy,
could have a comfortable home.could have a comfortable home.

9. Squalor/HousingSqualor/Housing
 However, worryingHowever, worrying
lack of availablelack of available
council housingcouncil housing
throughout thethroughout the
country.country.
 In Scotland alone, last year, 142,000In Scotland alone, last year, 142,000
households were on waiting lists for socialhouseholds were on waiting lists for social
housing.housing.

10. Ignorance/EducationIgnorance/Education
 Secondary education was only available toSecondary education was only available to
those who could pay or who passed athose who could pay or who passed a
scholarship at the age of 11.scholarship at the age of 11.
 Most children left school at the end ofMost children left school at the end of
elementary education when they were 14.elementary education when they were 14.

11. Ignorance/EducationIgnorance/Education
 1944 education act1944 education act
 Leaving age up from 14 to 15.Leaving age up from 14 to 15.
 All children get secondary educationAll children get secondary education
without paying fees.without paying fees.
HoweverHowever
 Student debt levels are risingStudent debt levels are rising
 School dropouts rate higher inSchool dropouts rate higher in
certain communities or placescertain communities or places
 Education quality differs according toEducation quality differs according to
social class and incomesocial class and income

12. Idleness/EmploymentIdleness/Employment
 After the war, there was work forAfter the war, there was work for
everyone as Britain rebuilt itself.everyone as Britain rebuilt itself.
 By 1946, unemployment wasBy 1946, unemployment was
reduced to 2.5 %reduced to 2.5 %
 However huge post-war problemsHowever huge post-war problems
such as shortages of raw materialssuch as shortages of raw materials
and massive war debts.and massive war debts.

13. Idleness/EmploymentIdleness/Employment
 Government nationalised someGovernment nationalised some
industries and supported industries inindustries and supported industries in
high areas of unemployment.high areas of unemployment.
 Objective : providing full employmentObjective : providing full employment
for all working age citizens.for all working age citizens.
 Unemployment benefits (to be held toUnemployment benefits (to be held to
a subsistence level)a subsistence level)

14. Disease/HealthDisease/Health
 A National HealthA National Health
Service was set upService was set up
‘free at the point of‘free at the point of
use’ and available touse’ and available to
all.all.

15. The NHS 1948The NHS 1948
 Principles:
- Free medical services- Free medical services
- Every citizen is- Every citizen is
registered with a GPregistered with a GP
(General Practioners)(General Practioners)
- Visits to GP are free,- Visits to GP are free,
GP’s salary paid by NHSGP’s salary paid by NHS
- Patient goes to GP of- Patient goes to GP of
Residence AreaResidence Area
- Symbolic fee for drugs- Symbolic fee for drugs
(5 £)(5 £)

16. The NHSThe NHS
 However
- Charges for dental &- Charges for dental &
ophthalmic careophthalmic care
Problem for patients:Problem for patients:
Time factor:Time factor:
over 18 months for hip or eyeover 18 months for hip or eye
surgerysurgery

17. The NHSThe NHS
Problem for Government:Problem for Government:
Cost of the system, modernCost of the system, modern
medical techniques andmedical techniques and
medication.medication.
Ageing population requiring moreAgeing population requiring more
medical care.medical care.

18. POVERTY:Social SecurityPOVERTY:Social Security
 ServicesServices ::
- Retirement pensions- Retirement pensions
- Unemployment benefits- Unemployment benefits
- Income support, etc. 5s a week- Income support, etc. 5s a week
for each child after the first.for each child after the first.
 Developments:Developments:
- 1980’s major changes in the- 1980’s major changes in the
system -> less generoussystem -> less generous
- Benefits proportionate to- Benefits proportionate to
earningsearnings

19. ProblemsProblems
 Unemployment benefit said toUnemployment benefit said to
discourage workdiscourage work
 Notion of “Deserving poor”Notion of “Deserving poor”
 Single parents forced back to workSingle parents forced back to work
 Less social aids for the poor and theLess social aids for the poor and the
needyneedy
 Exclusion of the UnderclassExclusion of the Underclass