Welfare State (Social Democratic Approach)

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

Aims of the Welfare State:
The structure of the modern Welfare State was created by the Labour Government of 1945-51.
Based on the Beveridge Report of 1942 which identified “five giant evils of inequality”

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

Aims of the Welfare State:
The structure of the modern Welfare State was created by the Labour Government of 1945-51.
Based on the Beveridge Report of 1942 which identified “five giant evils of inequality”

Question 2

Dealing with Squalor (poor housing)

Answer 2

This has been a major success of the Welfare State as the vast majority of people now have basic housing amenities and slum areas have been removed from cities.
The success of this policy was based on the council house building programmes of the 1950’s to 1970’s.

Question 3

Squalor A03:

Answer 3

Conservative governments of the 1980’s council house building virtually stopped and from the 1990’s there has been an increase in homelessness.
emphasised private ownership and encouraged people to buy council houses (‘right to buy’ scheme), but during times of unemployment (such as in a recession) there has been record numbers of repossessions as people are unable to keep up with mortgage payments. Moreover, the end of council house building has led to a severe shortage of housing in the country.

Question 4

Ignorance (Education)

Answer 4

The 1944 Education Act established formal equality of opportunity and the numbers of students remaining in full time education has steadily increased over the last 50 years. Indeed, the New Labour Government of 1997 placed education as its main social policy for reducing inequality in society.

Question 5

Ignorance A03:

Answer 5

Educational reforms have not compensated for those disadvantaged by class and race and there remains a two tier educational system with up to 10% of pupils educated in private schools with superior facilities. 
The abolition of EMA, higher education grants and the introduction of student loans has made it more difficult for working class students to remain in full time education.

Question 6

Idleness (unemployment)

Answer 6

Since the 1960’s governments have not been able to maintain full employment.

Question 7

Idleness A03:

Answer 7

As studies show unemployment to be major cause of poverty, this ‘giant’ has been a major failure of the Welfare State.

Question 8

Disease (poor health)

Answer 8

The NHS has contributed to the abolition and reduction of many infectious diseases, a decrease in the infant mortality rate and an increase in life expectancy.

Question 9

Disease A03:

Answer 9

The middle class tend to use the NHS more effectively and adopt healthier lifestyles. Life expectancy is linked to wealth; in the wealthy borough of Kensington London it is 85 for men but in the deprived Calton district of Glasgow it is 53.  
Moreover, the original aim of a totally free NHS has long been abandoned and many services now have charges (from prescriptions to eye tests).

Question 10

Want (poverty)

Answer 10

The redistribution of income through benefits such as income support, child benefit, tax credits and pensions has improved living standards for low income groups.

Question 11

Want A03:

Answer 11

However, any improvement must be measured in relative terms and recent research has shown an increase in the gap between rich and poor. Since the 1980’s there has been a redistribution of income in favour of the rich, with lower income tax rates, higher indirect taxes and cuts in the real value of benefits