KQ7 - Rebuilding The Country After 1945

Question 1

How was the Beveridge report created?

Answer 1

A Royal Comission set up in 1941 by Coalition Government

Sir William Beveridge appointee chairman

Question 2

Describe the concept of the ‘People’s War’

Answer 2

The wartime Govt, portrayed the war as a ‘people’s war’. They felt there had to be clear benefits for people when the war was over:

1. Reform social security to cover more of population
2. Reform healthcare system be hospital treatment
3. 1940, free milk for all children introduced

Question 3

When was the Beridge a Report published?

Answer 3

1 December 1942

Question 4

What was the Beveridge report named?

Answer 4

‘Social Insurance and Allied Services’

Question 5

What was the response to the Beveridge report?

Answer 5

Pros - Within 2 weeks, 9 out 10 people wanted proposals implemented

It was supported by British press except Daily Telegraph
Pro-labour Daily Mirror argued it was caring socialism

Criticisms -
some worried it was too expensive
Worried it would destroy the self-reliance in the ordinary person
Pro-Tory Daily telegraph thought report was a blueprint for Russian-style communism

Question 6

What were the proposals in the Beveridge report?

Answer 6

Essentially, creation of the Welfare State

Extend pensions + unemployment insurance and introduce healthcare for all:

In 1939, 21 mill eligible for pension, 15.5 covered for unemployment insurance & 20 mill covered by National Health Insurance

• Ideal that benefits should be universal (available to all) -> compulsory insurance scheme which created fund for weekly benefits, pensions + widow benefit
• family allowance for 2nd Child +
• Marriage grant
• Maternity grant
• Death Grant
• ending of Means Test as it was eligible to all

Question 7

What were the 5 giants?

Answer 7

Want
Ignorance
Squalor
Idleness
Disease

Question 8

Describe how the government solves ignorance - 5 giants

Answer 8

Education Act - 1944

• Ministry of Education created
• System divides into primary, secondary and further
• Grammar, technical and modern school following assessment at 11
• free education until 14 (15 in 1947)

Question 9

Describe how the government solved squalor - 5 giants

Answer 9

Housing Production Executive Set-up - 1946

• 1 million houses built 1945-51
• Thousands of pre-fans built

News Towns Act - 1946

• 17 in England, 5 in Scotland + 1 in Wales
• Northampton, Warrington, Crawley + Peterborough enlarged

Question 10

Describe how the government solves idleness - 5 giant

Answer 10

Wartime coalition Govt. believed it was duty of Govt. in peacetime to maintain high and stable levels of employment.

Labour nationalised several industries -> jobs
Building schemes ensured high employment for several years after war

Question 11

Describe how the government solves disease - 5 giants

Answer 11

National Health Service Act - 1946

• NHS came into operation in 1948
• Free to public at point of use
• Comprehensive service with best medicinal facilities for all

Question 12

Describe how the government solved want - 5 giants

Answer 12

Family Allowances Act - 1945
- 5s for everyone child after first payable to mum until child in full-time education up to 15/16

National Insurance Act - 1946

• Ministry of National Insurance created
• Unemployment, sickness, maternity + widow’s benefits
• Death grant
• Orphans’ guardians received allowances
• Old age pension -> men over 65, women over 60. 25s weekly for single, 42s per week for married couple

National Assistance Act - 1948

• for those who slipped past net of the new system
• abolished Poor Law system
• for those whose benefits weren’t enough (e.g chronic sick) -> use National Assistance Board
• Homeless, disabled + mentally ill covered