To what extent did the Labour welfare reforms, 1945-1951, deal effectively with the social problems of Britain?

Question 1

Introduction - Context

Answer 1

• In the 20th century, the third Labour government came into power in 1945 after the Second World War. After the war there was a growing mood of collectivism in society.
• Shortly before the election, a report commissioned by the Conservatives was published by William Beveridge.
• The Beveridge Report identified “Five Giants” of poverty.

Question 2

Introduction - Factors

Answer 2

• In this essay I will evaluate four of these Giants; Want, Disease, Squalor, and Ignorance.

Question 3

Introduction - LOA

Answer 3

• In this essay I will argue that the Labour welfare reforms, 1945-1951, did albeit with some limitations, deal effectively with the social problems of Britain.

Question 4

Want - National Insurance Act 1946 (success)

Answer 4

• One reform introduced by the Labour government to tackle the giant of Want was the National Insurance Act 1946.
• This means the wartime government through their white papers recommended a compulsory national insurance which would provide ‘from cradle to grave’ for all Britons.
• As a result, their National Insurance act came into play as workers could access sickness and unemployment benefits and an old age pension for women aged 60 and men aged 65, if they contributed to the weekly contributory scheme paid into by workers, employers, and the government.

Question 5

Want - National Insurance Act 1946 (success) Analysis

Answer 5

• Arguably this shows, the Labour reforms did deal effectively with the social problems of Britain as this was the first time all adults had a system of social security in place and it was a flat rate contribution, for a flat rate benefit for all which was a significant improvement on what had previously been offered by the government.

Question 6

Want - National Insurance Act 1946 (failure)

Answer 6

• However, the National Insurance Act 1946 was not fully effective in dealing with the social problems of Britain.
• This is because sickness benefits were only available to those who made 156 weekly contributions, so many were not eligible.

Question 7

Want - National Insurance Act 1946 (failure) Analysis

Answer 7

Arguably this shows the National Insurance Act wasn’t fully effective as it would take people 156 weeks to be able to access the benefits of their contributions to the act so many who suffered illness or bereavement ended up in poverty regardless.

Question 8

Want - National Insurance Act 1946 Evaluation

Answer 8

• In evaluation, even though the National Insurance Act 1946 was not fully effective in tackling the giant of want as 156 weekly contributions had to be made to the act before the person could receive any kind of benefit from their contributions so they could end up back in poverty.
• Nevertheless, the Labour welfare reforms did deal effectively with the social problems of Britain as Historian Pat Thane states, “Social security was to the real advantage of many women who had previously been excluded from most social insurance benefits”.
• This tells us National Insurance had a positive effect on the lives of the public in Britain but especially women. Therefore, the Labour welfare reforms, 1945-1951, did albeit with some limitations, deal effectively with the social problems of Britain.

Question 9

Disease - National Health Service (NHS) 1946 Success

Answer 9

• Secondly, Labour government introduced the National Health Service (NHS) Act 1946 to tackle the giant of Disease.
• This means on July 5th, 1946, the NHS was introduced to provide healthcare based around three main aims: Universal access, comprehensiveness and free to the point of use. For the first time ever, every British citizen could receive medical, dental, and optical services free of charge.

Question 10

Disease - National Health Service (NHS) 1946 Success analysis

Answer 10

Arguably this shows the Labour welfare reforms, 1945-1951, did deal effectively with the social problems of Britain as for the first time ever British citizens could access free healthcare so they could be cured from Disease without having to worry about the burden of cost.

Question 11

Disease - National Health Service (NHS) 1946 failure

Answer 11

• However, there was a limitation to the effectiveness of the NHS as the Labour government underestimated how many people needed medical assistance as costs were enormous.
• This is because £358 million was spent on the NHS in 1950 which was far more than the £140 million budgeted for the Act.
• This led to the introduction of prescription and spectacle charges in 1951-1952.

Question 12

Disease - National Health Service (NHS) 1946 failure analysis

Answer 12

• Arguably this shows the NHS was limited in its effectiveness as due to a backlog of medical problems finally being addressed, the act cost almost three times the originally budgeted £140 million, resulting in charges being introduced which undermined the main principle of the NHS being a free healthcare service for all.

Question 13

Disease - National Health Service (NHS) 1946 evaluation

Answer 13

• In evaluation, even though the National Health Service Act 1946 was not fully effective in tackling the giant of Disease as the Act was under budgeted leading to excess costs of £358 million which led to the introduction of charges on prescriptions and spectacles, so the NHS was no longer free for all.
• Nevertheless, the Labour welfare reforms, 1945-1951, did deal effectively with the social problems of Britain as in its first year the NHS provided 13.5 million prescriptions per month and 5 million spectacles were issued which shows the Labour welfare reforms, 1945-1951, did albeit with some limitations, deal effectively with the social problems of Britain.

Question 14

Squalor - New Towns Act 1946 Success

Answer 14

• A reform introduced by the Labour government aimed to tackle the giant of Squalor was the New Towns Act 1946.
• This means that in 1945 most of Britain’s cities still had slum areas and overcrowding was still a problem, therefore, the government introduced the New Towns Act to create 14 new towns including Cumbernauld and East Kilbride.
• The act insured houses had to be built to a good standard and include separate bedrooms, hot and cold water and electricity.

Question 15

Squalor - New Towns Act 1946 Success Analysis

Answer 15

• Arguably this shows the Labour welfare reforms, 1945-1951, did deal effectively with the social problems of Britain as new towns were produced to help more people access homes and houses were being built to a higher standard with separate bedrooms allowing for a change in living conditions for many Britons.

Question 16

Squalor - New Towns Act 1946 Failure

Answer 16

• However, there was some limitations to the effectiveness of the New Towns Act as the 1951 census revealed there were 750,000 fewer houses than there were families needed homes.

Question 17

Squalor - New Towns Act 1946 Failure Analysis

Answer 17

• Arguably this shows the New Towns Act was limited in its effectiveness as homelessness was a large problem as there were not enough houses in Britain to accommodate everyone in search of a house so living conditions remained poor.

Question 18

Squalor - New Towns Act 1946 evaluation

Answer 18

• In evaluation, even though the New Towns Act 1946 was not fully effective in tackling the giant of Squalor as there was 750,000 less homes in Britain than families in need of a home.
• Nevertheless, the Labour welfare reforms, 1945-1951, did deal effectively with the social problems of Britain as four council houses were built for every one private house between 1945 and 1951 so this provided housing for poor and working-class citizens.

Question 19

Ignorance - Education Act 1944 success

Answer 19

• Finally, a reform introduced to tackle the giant of Ignorance was the Education Act 1944. This act made secondary education compulsory until the age of 15 years old.
• By 1950, 1,176 new schools were built or under construction, 928 of which were primary schools.

Question 20

Ignorance - Education Act 1944 success analysis

Answer 20

• Arguably this shows that the Labour welfare reforms, 1945-1951, did deal effectively with the social problems of Britain as compulsory education meant that more children were gaining access to an education which would improve their opportunities, likewise more schools being built provided more accessibility to schools.

Question 21

Ignorance - Education Act 1944 failure

Answer 21

• However, there were some limitations to the effectiveness of the Education Act as Grammar Schools and secondary modern schools were given better funding than technical schools which created a lack of respect and technical schools became working class dominated whilst grammar and secondary moderns were mostly middle class.

Question 22

Ignorance - Education Act 1944 failure analysis

Answer 22

• Arguably this shows the Education Act was limited in its effectiveness as working-class children were given unfair opportunities compared to Grammar and secondary modern schools due to their lack of funding.

Question 23

Ignorance - Education Act 1944 evaluation

Answer 23

• In evaluation, even though the Education Act 1944 was not fully effective in tackling the giant of Ignorance as technical schools lacked funding compared to Grammar and secondary modern schools creating an unfair learning environment for the working class.
• Nevertheless, the Labour welfare reforms, 1945-1951, did deal effectively with the social problems of Britain as during Labours term in office, 35,000 teachers were trained under a one-year emergency training scheme.

Question 24

Conclusion

Answer 24

• In Conclusion, there were many reasons the Labour welfare reforms, 1945-1951, did albeit with some limitations, deal effectively with the social problems of Britain.
• As although the National Insurance Act was somewhat limited in its effectiveness as sickness benefits were only available to those who made 156 weekly contributions so many were not eligible.
• Nevertheless, the act allowed workers to access sickness and unemployment benefits and an old age pension for women aged 60 and men aged 65.
• Furthermore, the Labour reforms were effective in dealing with the social problems of Britain as although the NHS had to introduce paid prescriptions due to the act being under budgeted.
• Nevertheless, evidence suggests the act was effective as maternity and child welfare services were provided by the NHS for the first time.
• Moreover, the labour reforms were effective in dealing with social problems in Britain as although the 1951 census revealed there were 750,000 fewer houses than there were families in need of a home.
• Nevertheless, the act was effective as 14 new towns were created including Cumbernauld and East Kilbride. Lastly, the Labour reforms were effective in dealing with the social problems of Britain as although grammar and secondary modern schools were given better funding than technical schools which created a loss of respect for technical schools.
• Nevertheless, the Education Act made secondary education compulsory for everyone until the age of 15 years old.
• Overall, the Labour welfare reforms, 1945-1951, did albeit with some limitations, deal effectively with the social problems of Britain.