Success of the Labour Reforms Flashcards
Poverty
K - The 1946 national insurence act, a compulsory scheme where the poor were payed benefits. Every worker was covered.
K - National assistance act of 1948 helped those who had not paid enough to qualify for full benefit. - Safety net
A+ It took up about 5% of peoples savings.
E -To evaluate, poverty was a more successful area of reform than housing, this is because they achieved their goal and were efficient in deciding where support was allocated. The aid given to the elderly was particularly effective since a system was created where everyone had a pension, this had a huge impact on poverty amongst the old. Housing on the other hand was not as successful as they were not efficient and did not achieve their goal, they were about 750,000 houses under their aim and put quality before quantity.
Housing
K - 157,000 houses were built in the first year for the homeless
K - These houses were more high quality than older council homes and communities were set up which had stores, schools and leisure facilities.
A + Could have been more efficient if a ministry of housing was introduced.
E - To evaluate housing was not a relatively successful area of reform for Labour. Whilst homelessness after the reforms was at its 1931 level, the war put Labour in a tough situation and they recovered quite well considering the lack action towards housing during the Liberal Reforms.
Health
K - The introduction of the NHS 1948 which provided free healthcare for all (tax)
K - The vaccination programme stopped the spread of some of the most dangerous diseases in the UK.
A+ Massive expense - By 1951 it couldn’t be funded by tax alone so prescription charges were introduced.
E - To evaluate, health was the most successful areas of Reform for the Labour Party. Historians Sked and Cook said it “improved the quality of life of most of the British people”. This meant that despite the financial investment, the whole country benefited tremendously from the NHS, it was a safety net for the British people in that falling ill could no longer put you in poverty.
Unemployment
K - Labour carried out “Nationalisation”. This meant that the government took over the industry to theoretically allow for “full employment”.
K - The work done to expand university led to a 60% increase in the amount of uni students from 1945-51
A + It is debated whether or not employment boomed because of the Labour government or the boom in industry after the war.
E - To evaluate, Labour were quite successful in tackling unemployment. Their strategy (although debate-ably inefficient) had almost gotten rid of unemployment. And whether or not this is all due to the work of Labour, it is undeniable that significant progress was made in lowering unemployment.
Education
K - The education act of 1944 made it compulsory for children to stay in school until they were 15
K - This Act also provided food, milk and medical services (They did not introduce the act)
E - To evaluate, education was a successful area of reform for Labour, but more progress was made towards improving health. This is because after the reforms there was still an divide between the rich and the poor. The controversial “11+” exam led to inequality as those who were wealthy could recieve support and would often do better because of it. The NHS on the other hand was comprehensive, it provided support for everyone regardless of their wealth.
