Roll Back Of The State

Question 1

What political consensus favored state intervention after World War II?

Answer 1

A relatively large state apparatus and welfare state policies

This included the establishment of the NHS, family allowances, council housing, and unemployment benefits.

Question 2

What did many Conservatives believe about a large public sector under Thatcher?

Answer 2

It led to individuals becoming lazy and dependent on the state

They also believed that state monopolies caused complacency in the public workforce.

Question 3

What were the key moral values that influenced Margaret Thatcher’s political views?

Answer 3

Hard work, self-reliance, thrift, and determination

These values were rooted in her Methodist upbringing.

Question 4

How did Thatcher perceive state interference in people’s lives?

Answer 4

As a major reason for British decline

She believed the welfare state had turned productive citizens into lazy dependants.

Question 5

What was one of Thatcher’s views on state ownership of industry?

Answer 5

It led to complacency and a lack of competitiveness

This view was part of her broader critique of the welfare state.

Question 6

In what year did Britain have three times the number of civil servants as in 1980?

Answer 6

By 1997

This was part of Thatcher’s efforts to reduce the size of the civil service.

Question 7

What system was implemented to reduce civil service responsibilities?

Answer 7

MINIS (Management Information System)

This was aimed at promoting efficiency and collaboration with the private sector.

Question 8

What was a consequence of the civil service reductions during Thatcher’s era?

Answer 8

A shift towards privatization and reliance on private sector partnerships

Historians note this was a significant change in government structure.

Question 9

What did Thatcher think about local government?

Answer 9

It was one of the most troublesome aspects of government

She believed local governments were often ‘captured’ by special interests.

Question 10

Fill in the blank: Thatcher believed the welfare state had become a __________.

Answer 10

nanny state.

Question 11

True or False: Thatcher’s government aimed to expand the public sector.

Answer 11

False

Thatcher’s policies focused on rolling back state intervention.

Question 12

What impact did Thatcher’s governments (1979-90) have on Britain?

Answer 12

Thatcher’s governments aimed to reduce the size of the state, decrease government interference, and lower taxes. This included promoting efficiency, privatisation, and contracting out government services.

Question 13

What is the acronym TINA?

Answer 13

TINA stands for ‘There Is No Alternative’, used to defend Thatcher’s controversial policies in the early 1980s.

Question 14

What is neo-liberalism?

Answer 14

Neo-liberalism is the belief that the free market is better at allocating goods and resources than the state, advocating for minimal government interference in the economy and people’s lives.

Question 15

How did Thatcher slim down the civil service?

Answer 15

Thatcher reduced the civil service from 732,000 in 1980 by employing business-minded advisers, implementing the Management Information System for Ministers (MINIS), and sacking inefficient workers.

Question 16

What was the outcome of the Financial Management Initiative?

Answer 16

By 1988, 22.5 percent of civil servants had been sacked, saving an estimated £1 billion.

Question 17

What significant change occurred in the civil service by 1997?

Answer 17

By 1997, 76 percent of civil servants worked in almost 100 different agencies, which became the primary means of delivering public services.

Question 18

What did the Local Government Act (1985) enable Thatcher to do?

Answer 18

The Local Government Act allowed Thatcher to abolish troublesome councils, including the Greater London Council and six other metropolitan councils.

Question 19

Who primarily paid local rates before Thatcher’s reforms?

Answer 19

Local rates were only paid by people who owned or rented property of a certain value; many poorer people did not have to pay them at all.

Question 20

What was Thatcher’s view on local rates and benefits?

Answer 20

Thatcher hated that some councils could promise generous benefits and services to people who would not have to pay for them.

Question 21

What was the purpose of the Community Charge introduced by Thatcher?

Answer 21

The Community Charge aimed to widen a sense of financial responsibility by being based on individuals rather than property value.

Question 22

What was the nickname for the Community Charge and why was it unpopular?

Answer 22

The Community Charge became known as the ‘poll tax’ and was unpopular because it meant the poor paid a higher percentage of their income than the rich.

Question 23

What happened to the Community Charge after mass protests?

Answer 23

The Conservatives were forced to abandon the Community Charge and introduce a revised council tax linked to property values instead.

Question 24

How did Thatcher promote efficiency in local councils?

Answer 24

Thatcher promoted greater efficiency through the ‘contracting out’ of council services, encouraging private firms to bid for contracts.

Question 25

What was the impact of the Housing Act of 1980?

Answer 25

The Housing Act of 1980 gave some people the 'Right to Buy', enabling those who had lived in a council house for three or more years to purchase their house from the council.

Question 26

What was one of the effects of the 'Right to Buy' policy?

Answer 26

The 'Right to Buy' policy aimed to cut council spending on property maintenance.

Question 27

What was the change in local government employee numbers from 1979 to 1995?

Answer 27

Nationally, the total number of local government employees fell from 2.5 to 2.1 million between 1979 and 1995.

Question 28

Who primarily paid local rates before Thatcher's reforms?

Answer 28

Local rates were only paid by people who owned or rented property of a certain value; many poorer people did not have to pay them at all.

Question 29

What was Thatcher's view on local rates and benefits?

Answer 29

Thatcher hated that some councils could promise generous benefits and services to people who would not have to pay for them.

Question 30

What was the purpose of the Community Charge introduced by Thatcher?

Answer 30

The Community Charge aimed to widen a sense of financial responsibility by being based on individuals rather than property value.

Question 31

What was the nickname for the Community Charge and why was it unpopular?

Answer 31

The Community Charge became known as the 'poll tax' and was unpopular because it meant the poor paid a higher percentage of their income than the rich.

Question 32

What happened to the Community Charge after mass protests?

Answer 32

The Conservatives were forced to abandon the Community Charge and introduce a revised council tax linked to property values instead.

Question 33

How did Thatcher promote efficiency in local councils?

Answer 33

Thatcher promoted greater efficiency through the 'contracting out' of council services, encouraging private firms to bid for contracts.

Question 34

What was the impact of the Housing Act of 1980?

Answer 34

The Housing Act of 1980 gave some people the 'Right to Buy', enabling those who had lived in a council house for three or more years to purchase their house from the council.

Question 35

What was one of the effects of the 'Right to Buy' policy?

Answer 35

The 'Right to Buy' policy aimed to cut council spending on property maintenance.

Question 36

What was the change in local government employee numbers from 1979 to 1995?

Answer 36

Nationally, the total number of local government employees fell from 2.5 to 2.1 million between 1979 and 1995.

Question 37

What was John Major's role in local government?

Answer 37

John Major was involved in local government service, focusing on reducing costs and inefficiencies.

Question 38

What impact did Thatcher's governments have on property ownership?

Answer 38

Thatcher's policies increased home ownership from 35% to 63% between 1979 and 1997, benefiting individuals but making it harder for councils to house the poorest.

Question 39

What was Thatcher's approach to the National Health Service (NHS)?

Answer 39

Thatcher aimed to reduce NHS costs and inefficiencies, preferring private health insurance over tax funding.

Question 40

How did public perception affect Thatcher's NHS reforms?

Answer 40

Despite her intentions, Thatcher had to be cautious due to public approval of the NHS's provision of free care.

Question 41

What significant change occurred in NHS spending between 1980 and 1987?

Answer 41

NHS spending rose by 60% during this period, increasing its share of total government spending from 12% to 15%.

Question 42

What was the 'internal market' proposed in the 1989 White Paper?

Answer 42

The 'internal market' aimed for health authorities to purchase services from hospital trusts managed by professionals.

Question 43

What were the outcomes of the NHS reforms under Thatcher?

Answer 43

The reforms were unpopular with doctors and did not achieve expected cost savings, with NHS management costs rising significantly.

Question 44

How did the number of people with private health insurance change by 1990?

Answer 44

The number of people with private health insurance grew from 500,000 in 1955 to 6.6 million in 1990, but only 1% of manual workers had private cover.

Question 45

What were Thatcher's goals for education reforms?

Answer 45

Thatcher aimed to raise educational standards and deliver better value for money, believing the teaching profession was resistant to necessary changes.

Question 46

What significant educational reform was introduced in 1988?

Answer 46

The 1988 Education Act imposed a National Curriculum and new assessment methods, including the GCSE examination.

Question 47

What was the purpose of league tables in education?

Answer 47

League tables were designed to empower parents to choose better schools and drive up educational standards.

Question 48

What was the impact of the 1988 Education Reform Act on school funding?

Answer 48

The Act allowed schools to become grant-maintained, meaning they were directly funded by the central government, giving headteachers and governors control over budgets and spending.

Question 49

What percentage of secondary schools became grant-maintained after the 1988 Education Reform Act?

Answer 49

19 percent of all secondary schools became grant-maintained.

Question 50

What was the effect of the National Curriculum introduced by the 1988 Education Reform Act?

Answer 50

The introduction of a National Curriculum increased central government interference in education despite the increased independence of grant-maintained schools.

Question 51

Which services did Thatcher focus on for reform?

Answer 51

Thatcher focused on health services, housing, schools and universities, urban renewal, and local government.

Question 52

What was Thatcher's view on socialist institutions?

Answer 52

Thatcher believed these services were afflicted by socialism and needed to be purged by bringing them under central control.

Question 53

What approach did Thatcher take towards local government?

Answer 53

Thatcher applied private sector disciplines and top-down reorganization to local government.

Question 54

What was the outcome of Thatcher's reforms on public services?

Answer 54

The outcome was continuous upheaval and dissatisfaction, leading to a demand for more reforms.

Question 55

Who is Simon Jenkins?

Answer 55

Simon Jenkins is a journalist who mainly writes for the left-of-centre daily newspaper, the Guardian.

Question 56

What is the title of Simon Jenkins's book that discusses Thatcher?

Answer 56

The title of the book is 'Thatcher & Sons - a Revolution in Three Acts' (2006).

Question 57

What is the significance of the conservative think-tank in relation to Thatcher?

Answer 57

The conservative think-tank influenced Thatcher's policies and approach to governance.