How far did British society change 1939-1975 (Part 2)
The Beveridge report
During WW2, William Beveridge researched how life
in Britain could be improved, he identified 5 social
plagues: squalor, ignorance, want, idleness, disease
Beveridge suggested new
principles Britain should be built on
Universality - everyone eligible for benefits
National system of insurance, all workers and
employers pay into a scheme so no need or charity
Family allowance or children
Healthcare
Implementation of Beveridge's recommendations
July 1945, Labour government
implemented these suggestions
Family Allowances Act 1945 -
5 shillings per week per child
National Insurance Act 1946 - benefits for any
worker who was unemployed, injured or sick
National Health Service
Act 1946 - free health care
Children Act 1948 - services
et up to protect children
Housing Act 1949 - programme of building
new houses to latest specifications
The National Health Service (NHS)
Created in 1948, 5 July
The most significant part of the welfare state
Labour Health Minister had to overcome
conservative opposition in order to create NHS
Impact of NHS on people's lives
British public very welcome to the availability to free
medical care, demand exceeded all expectations
Between 1948 and 1973,
number of doctors doubled
High quality maternity care
available to women for first time
Up until 1910, life expectancy of
women was 45, 1970 it rose to 76
Free child vaccinations significantly
reduced death from common diseases