Theme 2 - Welfare: Provisions Flashcards
1
Q
What did the unemployment insurance act of 1920 do?
A
- Extended social welfare and NI from 4 million in 1919 to 11.4 million in 1921
- Benefits up to 75p for unemployed men, 60p for unemployed women (STILL LOW)
- Created state funded doll available to unemployed without means test
2
Q
How was the extension of state spending in the early 1920’s justified?
A
- High unemployment rates
- Fears of revolution
- Desire to help WW1 veterans
3
Q
What happened to the welfare budget in the early 1930’s and what was the impact of this?
A
- Size of budget became controversial due to state of British economy
- Chancellor Phillip Snowden proposed a 10% cut in unemployment benefits
- Arthur Henderson, foreign secretary, led a cabinet revolt against proposals brining the gov down and causing Ramsey to form a National government with the conservatives
4
Q
What did the National economy act of 1931 state? Impact?
A
- Introduced means test for unemployment benefits in order to limit number of benefits handed out
- Very negative impact due to;
- short time workers being disqualified - many deprived areas such as south Wales had many workers working reduced hours. It made more sense to be unemployed than work reduced hours as you’d get benefits
- Benefits only claimed up to 6 months
- Transitional payments supported people after first 6 months but had to apply at Labour exchange to get them
- Assessed all household income meaning only the poorest of the poor got any benefits. (STILLL LOWWWWW)
- Many working children left home so parents could get benefits
- Hugely increased poverty levels
5
Q
What did the unemployment act of 1934 do?
A
- Built on previous laws maintaining distinction between short and long term unemployment
- Reversed 10% cut in benefits for short term unemployed (benefits for first 6 months)
- After 6 months benefits claimed from the Unemployment assistance board
- Cut in payments made to long term unemployed. Led to large public protests so in Jan 1935 the cuts were suspended
6
Q
What was the evacuation and what we’re it’s effects?
A
- 1939 1.5million children were moved out of the cities and into the countryside in order to protect them from bombings
- Initially Evacuation authorities did not cater for needs of evacuees and assumed that families or private charities would but they didn’t meaning many were sent without space clothes, bedding or food
- This later changed and children were provided with essentials
- Highlighted inequalities in society
7
Q
1) What was clothes rationing?
2) Effects of rationing?
A
1)
-Rationed from June 1941 with yearly allowance of 66 coupons (women’s dress cost about 11 coupons)
-Washing was hard as coal was rationed so little hot water
2)
-There was a thriving black market however many felt it equalised society. People accepted it and made the best with what they had
-Diets improved thanks to nutritional substitutes
-People didn’t like continued rationing after war however
8
Q
What was the Beveridge report?
A
- Wanted to state welfare to conquer 5 giants; Squalor, ignorance, want, idleness and disease
- Written in 1942 as plan to reform Britain after war
- Advocated a new relationship of co-op between state and individual
- Argued for flat rate of contributions from all wage earners to pay for benefits and a flat rate of benefits received
9
Q
Reactions to Beveridge report?
A
- Vision was popular in all aspects of society and press
- Used as propaganda during war to fight for better Britain
- Recommendations were not implemented immeditaly
10
Q
What was the 1945 family allowance act?
A
- Gave child benefits
- 5 shillings a week for each child (except eldest)
- Lead to improvement of status of mother as the money went directly to them and therefore they had economic independence from husband
11
Q
What was the 1946 National insurance act?
A
- 25p weekly charge on the wages of all workers
- Made unemployment and sickness benefits availible to all workers
- Paid state pension to men over 65 and women over 60 (£1.30 for singles and £2.10 for couples)
- Everyone regardless of wealth would be covered
- abolished means test
- Amount people paid into the scheme was the same so poor paid larger % than rich
12
Q
What was the 1946 industrial injuries act?
A
- Allowed workers to gain compensation for injuries in the workplace
- 2425 died in 1940 with the most dangerous job being mining accounting for 1/4 of total deaths
13
Q
What was the national assistance act?
A
- Offered assistance to those not in work and not covered by the NIA (homeless, disabled and unmarried)
- got rid of public assistance committees and replaced with National Assistance Board
- Pushed power to local authorities
14
Q
What was welfare consensus?
A
- From 1939 broad agreements between parties over the role of the state and the provision of welfare
- Harold Macmillian (1957-63) wanted to ensure there was no return to the poverty and deprivation of the 1930’s. Knew welfare cuts would be unpopular so didn’t do any
- Believed that upper middle class had responsibilities to care for poor
15
Q
What impact did welfare consensus have?
A
- Britain still spent less on welfare throughout 50’s and 60’s than France and West Germany however cost of social welfare as % of GDP rose from 3% to 4% with pension taking up further 3%
- Welfare spending did not end poverty as in 1965 720k kids still lived in poverty
- Persistence of poverty lead to debate regarding effectiveness of welfare state
- 1970 conservatives began to reconsider their commitment to high levels of welfare spending
