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labour reforms - Coggle Diagram
labour reforms
successes
IDLENESS labour introduced nationalisation which made large sections of the economy government owned
WANT attempts to eliminate want were attempts to eliminate poverty- main causes of poverty were old age, sickness, unemployment and industrial accidents. these needed to be dealt with to solve poverty
national insurance act 1946 provided financial protection In the event of unemployment or sickness, maternity benefits, pension, financial assistance for funerals and widow benefit
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James Griffiths, minister of national insurance- 'the best and cheapest insurance policy offered to th British people; of people anywhere'
industrial injuries act 1946 provided financial relief for those who were temporarily and long-term absent from work due to injury. compensation was paid by the government not the employers. injury benefit was set at a higher rate than unemployment benefit and for the first time, women were paid the same comp rate as men
national assistance act 1948 provided safety net for those who weren't catered for the national insurance scheme- unemployed and elderly who hadn't contributed enough to qualify for pension. this act established standardised minimal living conditions for the unemployed
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new towns act 1946 built 12 new towns in order to reduce overcrowding in inner cities ie. East Kilbride and Glenrothes
at first they lacked public amenities but these problems were solved over time with new facilities being built
housing act 1949 gave councils the power to forcibly purchase housing stock to make improvements meaning they could buy poor quality slum housing and improve or replace it. householders could also apply for assistance to make improvements if their house was in need of significant changes to render them habitable
DISEASE NHS act passed 1946, came into operation 1948. provided free and comprehensive health-care system for all. services were funded from general tax and would in general be free at point of use, comprehensive and available.
NHS took responsibility for 360,000 staff in England and Wales and a further 45,000 in Scotland. NHS was very popular with the public
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patricia thane argues that the reforms particularly benefitted many women and also those of the lower middle class who had previously been excluded from omsot social insurance benefits
seebohm rowntrees investigation into conditions in york in 1951 found that primary poverty had gone down to 2% compared to 36% in 1936
failures
IGNORANCE education act was passed in 1944. while this act improved many aspects of education, it could be said that the labour government could have done more once they came into power
WANT national insurance act had several criticisms. it did not provide for members of society who were not in work and had not made contributions
benefits only went to those who made 156 weekly contributions and was only given for a limited period. they were at a fixed rate for 5 years and failed to keep up with the cost of living. in 1948, benefits were only 29% of average industrial wage
national assistance act was means tested. the financial assistance depended on the amount of money/valuables a family or individual possessed. many elderly were reluctant to apply for assistance, believing there was a stigma atatched
SQUALOR praise of 200,000 houses per year ws not met initially
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1951 census revealed there were 750,000 fewer houses than households in britain. Approximately the same level of homelessness in 1931
disappointment at labours record on the housing issue arguably led to their electoral defeat in 1951.
DISEASE scheme faced opposition from doctors who feared loss of income 1948 survey showed that only 4734 out of 45148 doctors polled were in favour of the service
doctors, dentists and opticians were overwhelmed by the number of patients
NHS became massive burden on the tax-payers, costing more than £358million per year by 1950. including £7million per month on prescription charges which were introduced
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Nicholas timmins- 'housing has been branded the welfare state failure of Bevan and the labour government.'
Charles webster NHS historian- 'the NHS failed to improve the general medical service available to the bulk of the population. lower class continued to receive an inferior service, but for a higher level of pay through teaxes and charges.'
background
beverage report had set out five giants and explained that to solve poverty the labour government had to focus on these giants- want, disease, squalor, idleness, ignorance
the beverdige report had formed the core labour manifesto and the public were very keen to see it implemented so ;about began to conquer the five giants and solve poverty
Corelli barnett criticises the creation of an expensive welfare state, ill-affordable at a time when there were other more pressing priorities such as education
Keneth Morgan is a staunch supporter of labours economic and coal record, citing it as one of the most successful governments of the 20th century.