Attlee's Ministry Flashcards
Welfare state
One in which the government tries tor provide the best posible social services for everyone
How significant was the Beveridge report to the welfare state established by Labour?
Derek Fraser ‘British Welfare State was not born - it had evolved’ Many of its proposals were just a rationalisation and extension of existing schemes -> New Liberalism 1906 reforms. Want, disease and idleness most efficiently tackled.
Outline the formation of the NHS
5 July 1948 -> System entitled everyone to free medical care in a range of services from gp’s, specialists and dentists, to hospital + opthalmic treatment
- Scheme financed mainly from taxation but some from National insurance contributions
- England + Wales divided into 14 areas each under a regional hospital board which controlled general policy
What challenges did Bevan face when establishing the NHS?
Opposition to scheme from family doctors due to salaried pay by government. Feb 1948, 90% of members of BMA threatened to boycott the whole scheme.
How did Bevan overcome challenges to the NHS?
Doctors would receive fees based on the number of patients they had on their list.
NHS costs
400 mill in the first year. Prescriptions -> 19 mill a month by 1951.
Outline the National Insurance Act (1946)
Extended the original 1911 Act to cover all adults. Scheme was compulsory; in return for a weekly contribution from worker, employer and gov. -> individual was entitled to sickness and unemployment benefit, old age pensions for women at 60 and men at 65, widows’ and orphans’ pensions, maternity allowances and death grants to help with funeral expenses.
Outline the National Assistance Act (1948)
Acted as a safety blanket for those who couldn’t afford National insurance. Set up National assistance boards to which they could apply for further assistance. Despite applicants having to undergo a ‘means test’ money for extra relief was provided by gov from taxation -> provided a whole new social security structure
Outline the National Insurance Industrial Injuries Act (1946)
Vast improvement on the old Workmen’s Compensation Acts, under which it had been difficult and expensive for a worker to prove that an injury or disability was caused by their job. Made it compulsory for both workers and employers to join the state in making weekly contributions to a fund which would provide compensation to injured workers.
How did Labour tackle education?
- Concentrated on implementing the Butler Ed. Act 1944. -> secondary ed. until age of 15 free, and providing meals and medical services in schools.
- Exam -> 11+ to select which children were thought to be suitable for grammar school ed.
- A successful Youth Employment Service set up + expansion of university and technical ed.
What were the 2 main criticisms of Labour’s approach to education?
- Education provided varied in type and quality from area to area e.g. Surrey only 15% of places were in grammar schools or technical schools
- System was divisive. View that secondary modern schools were second-class institutions to which the 11-plus failures went quickly adopted. Labour had missed out on the opportunity to introduce a comprehensive system, free from class distinction.
How did Labour manage housing?
55.4 k houses were completed in 1946. Over 284k in 1948. Bevan provided far more houses than Churchilll had asked for but his figure of 750k turned out to be an underestimation due to increase in marriages and birth rate post waw -> serious housing shortage in 1951
Outline the New Towns Act (1946)
Gov. power to decide where new towns should be built, and to set up development corporation to carry out the projects. In total, 14 new towns were operational before the end of the Lab gov’s.
Why did Labour win so decisively in 1945?
- Conservative Weakness
- Labour Strength
- WW2
Outline the Town and Country Planning Act (1947)
Bevan
- Gave the job of planning to the county authorities -> planning authorities given much wider powers of compulsory purchase, and the right to control ads and historic buildings
TDA 1946
Repealed Baldwin’s 1927 act
Why did Labour attempt to introduce a planned economy?
- Restore trade and prosperity after war - 2/3 of GB export trade gone
- Declining industries had to be revived so exports could increase
- Balance of payments defecits -> over 3 mill owed to USA for good supplied on credit during the war
- Restructuring and modernising industry -> permit more efficient planning and co-operation between industries
- Eliminate unemploymment
Which industries were first nationalised?
- Bank of England 1946 -> money available whenever gov. needed it for investment
- Air transport nationalised and reorganised into 3 companies
- Coal-mining, cable and wireless 1947
- 1.5k collieries + around 400 smaller mines handed over to state ownership -> National coal board
Outline the nationalisation of transport
Public transport 1948 -> The British Transport Commission divided into 5 executive boards
1. Docks + Inland Waterways
2. Railways
3. London Transport
4. Road Haulage
5. Road Passenger Transport
Hoped to create an efficient transport network that would serve whole population
Nationalisation of electricity
Generation and supply of electricity nationalised in 1948. Central Electricity Board 1926 but now the state took over separate generating companies c500 and set up 14 area electricity boards that were able to standardise voltages and prices -> more efficient service over whole country similar with gas 1949
Why was the nationalisation of iron and steel controversial?
Iron and Steel industry was reasonably prosperous and efficient. Showed that the consensus of opinion between lab and Conservatives had its limits. H of L refused to pass bill -> the Parliament Act (1949) reduced powers of H of L so that bills could only be delayed for 1 year + plural voting abolished + universities lost representation in parliament
Outline American Aid 1945
Lend-Lease ended immediately after the war -> Keynes sent to Washington to negotiate and interest-free loan of 6 mill but Americans were unsympathetic and were only prepared to lend 3,750 mill at 2% interest with repayments to start in 1951 and GB would be required to make the pound sterling freely convertible for dollars in 1947
Did American aid in 1945 fix GB’s economy?
Loan was made available in July 1946 but used up within a year. Industry was recovering and exports reached 17% above 1939 level but balance of payments deficit stood at 438 mill
Outline Marshall Aid
1948 -> due to possible spread of communism Am. launches European recovery programme -> GB 1,263 mill This allowed recovery by 1950 exports stood at 75% above 1938 level
