An assessment of the effectiveness of the Labour reforms, 1945–51 Flashcards
What increased during WWII in terms of government role?
Government became more involved in people’s lives
What did the government ration during WWII?
Food, clothing, and fuel
Who received extra milk and meals during WWII?
Expectant mothers and children
How did most people react to government intervention during WWII?
They welcomed it and wanted more
What report was published in 1942?
The Beveridge Report
Who wrote the Beveridge Report?
William Beveridge
What were the ‘five giants’ identified in the Beveridge Report?
Want, Ignorance, Squalor, Disease, Idleness
What did Beveridge suggest to defeat the ‘five giants’?
A comprehensive and universal benefits system
What two key systems did the Beveridge Report recommend?
National Insurance and National Health Service
How was the Beveridge Report received by the public?
It was popular and influential
Which parties were influenced by the Beveridge Report?
Both the wartime coalition and post-war Labour government
What act was passed in 1946 regarding social security?
National Insurance Act
What did the National Insurance Act 1946 provide?
Sickness, unemployment, pension, maternity, and death grants
What was a weakness of the National Insurance Act 1946?
Pensions were low and reduced by inflation
What act was passed in 1948 for people not covered by insurance?
National Assistance Act
What did the National Assistance Act provide?
A safety net for those without contributions
What was a limitation of the National Assistance Act?
Means-tested and low payments
What act was passed in 1945 to help families?
Family Allowance Act
Who received payments under the Family Allowance Act?
Mothers of two or more children
Why were payments given directly to mothers?
They were more likely to spend on children and household
What act was passed in 1946 to help injured workers?
Industrial Injuries Act
What did the Industrial Injuries Act provide?
Insurance and benefits for workplace injuries
Who paid for compensation under the Industrial Injuries Act?
The government, not employers
Why was the Industrial Injuries Act an improvement?
Covered all workers and paid higher than normal sickness benefit
What act created the NHS?
National Health Service Act 1946
What services did the NHS provide for free?
Medical, dental, and optical services
Who was eligible for NHS services?
Every British citizen
What were the 3 main principles of the NHS?
Universal, comprehensive, and free at the point of use
Why is the NHS seen as the greatest welfare state achievement?
Healthcare was no longer based on ability to pay
What is one example of improved health after the NHS?
Fall in infant mortality rates
What was the cost of the NHS by 1950?
£358 million per year
How did Labour backtrack on the NHS being free?
Introduced charges for spectacles and dental treatment
What housing programme did the government undertake post-WWII?
Rebuilding slums and bomb-damaged homes
How many houses were being built per year by 1951?
200,000
What type of housing was common after WWII?
Council houses and prefabs
What were prefabs?
Quickly built, temporary housing
What act created new planned communities?
New Towns Act 1946
Name two towns created under the New Towns Act.
Glenrothes and East Kilbride
What was the aim of new towns?
Healthier and more spacious living than inner-city slums
What did the 1951 census reveal about housing?
A shortage of 750,000 homes
What was a key problem with prefab housing?
Poor quality but used for decades
What did the Education Act of 1944 (1945 in Scotland) do?
Raised school leaving age to 15 and made secondary education free
What extra services did schools provide under the Education Act?
Free meals, milk, and medical services
Who proposed the Education Act?
The Conservatives
Who implemented the Education Act?
The Labour government after 1945
What exam did all children sit at age 11?
The 11+ exam
What happened to pupils who passed the 11+?
Went to senior secondary or grammar school
What opportunities did passing the 11+ offer?
University and professional jobs
What happened to pupils who failed the 11+?
Went to junior secondary/technical school with lower expectations
What kind of jobs were pupils who failed the 11+ more likely to get?
Unskilled jobs
What was Labour’s key employment policy?
Full employment
Why was full employment important to Labour?
To ensure benefit payments could be provided
Which economist influenced Labour’s employment policy?
John Maynard Keynes
What was Labour’s method for creating jobs?
Nationalisation of major industries
Name three industries that were nationalised.
Coal, iron, steel
What was the unemployment rate in 1946?
2.5%
Why was low unemployment seen as an achievement?
It contrasted with the high unemployment of the 1930s
What do some historians argue about low unemployment?
It may have been due to post-war reconstruction, not Labour
What was a problem with some nationalised industries?
They were inefficiently managed and performed badly
