Higher History Extended Response.
Question: Assess the impact of the Labour welfare reforms on the lives of the British people.
Labour came to power in 1945 with a landslide victory. They had been elected by the people who
believed their promise to create ‘a new Jerusalem’ and introduce welfare reforms. In 1942 Sir William
Beveridge identified the 5 main needs of the people. They were adequate healthcare, adequate income,
adequate housing, education and the employment. This essay will examine Labour’s attempts to tackle
these needs in turn and analyse as to how far they impacted the British people’s lives. Some historians
have been extremely critical of Labour’s reforms especially Barnett who argues that introducing the
reforms instead of concentrating on economic recovery, Labour had a negative impact. Others argue that
the impact should have been more and Labour had missed opportunities to improve this. However
Kenneth Morgan has always praised the work of the Labour government who says “It was without doubt
the most effective of all Labour Governments, perhaps the most effective of any British government since
the passage of the 1832 Reform Act”. This essay intends to argue that the Labour government made a fair
impact on the British people’s life’s as they made an improvement to their lives, despite some obvious
faults.
Inadequate housing was a major problem in people’s life’s as evidence shows that housing was in
desperate need. After the Blitz during World War 2 700,000 houses were destroyed with Scotland alone
needing 500,000 in 1945. To resolve the problem the Labour government promised a home for every
family. Evidence shows that they tried to solve the problem of squalor in the short term by sending out
prefab houses to the areas in most need. Between 1945-48 157000 were sent showing Labour was quick
to make an impact on the lives of the public when they were in the most need. To ensure that the response
was quick builders were recalled from the war first. In addition subsidised local councils to build homes
through the 1946-47 housing acts which as a result helped the poor. By 1947 300,000 homes were built to
meet the housing needs of people. Furthermore Labour tried to solve the problem of squalor in the long
term by the New Towns Act in 1946 with the idea of building model community towns. By 1951 14 were
built which suggests that by providing new homes and communities it made a large impact on their lives.
Also the house size was increased from 800sq feet to 1000sq feet to improve the quality of the homes for
the public people. Despite their attempts to make a positive impact on the people’s life’s evidence
suggests that the Labour government did not make a great impact as the 1951 census revealed there were
750,000 more households than homes, hence the British people were still in desperate need of homes
something that is a basic human right and that the new government couldn’t provide, which meant the
failed to meet their promise to provide a home for every family. However it can be argued that the baby
boom and shortage of materials made it hard to defeat the lack of adequate housing and considering 4/5 of
homes that were built were council homes for these were most needed. Therefore the Labour made a
relatively large impact on the life’s of the British people taking an account of the circumstances.
Adequate income was a second major issue for the people as many faced poverty because only 50% of
the population were covered by National insurance. The Labour government had to provide an income for
the British people. Evidence that shows an attempt to conquer this is from the 1945 family allowance act
which provided 25p per week for every child after the first born, giving the household an alternative
income and some financial support, but Beveridge said it should have been 40p per child to be of any real
aid. Some argue that because it was not needs tested the poor who needed the allowance the most
subsequently got less as the rich who didn’t need it still got it. This is an example of evidence of Labour
attempting to have equality for everyone without the stigma attached. However this resulted in less
money those who most needed it. This reduced the impact made on the British people’s lives as the
people really did look to labour to continue to break down class barriers. Labour after all traditionally
meant to help the poor. In another attempt, Labour expanded 1946 National Insurance. A compulsory and
comprehensive scheme that covered and gave benefit in time of need thus making an impact on their
lives. For example old age, illness and maternity were covered. It was designed to care from the “cradle to
the crib”. Although it appears successful on paper there were some faults, for example how much was
given out to one person. The payments were fixed for 5 years and did not rise with the cost of living and
were only 19% of an average weekly wage which would fail to sustain a family. Plus it was only given
after 156 contributions which limit’s the impact on the British people as it didn’t people when the
desperately needed the benefit. In 1948 National Assistance was introduced to act as a safety net. It
provided lump sums of money or weekly benefit for as long as it was needed to those not covered by
National Insurance which expanded the impact made. In 1949 2 million people were claiming National
Assistance which strengthens the argument that it made a impact on peoples lives. Therefore that whilst
Labour failed to fully provide an adequate income, progress and effort wad made.
Education proved to be a big problem for people as secondary education came with fees that working
class people could not pay, thus denying them further education. Something needed to be done as it was
creating a social divide, which is the opposite of making a positive impact on lives. As a response Labour
implemented the 1944 Butler Education Act which had been created during the coalition government.
This meant that the leaving age was raised to 15 and secondary education was free and compulsory. This
made a huge impact in people’s lives as it meant that education was easily available to all. With it came
the 11+ exam which determined by judging the pupil’s abilities, which secondary school would best suit
them. It you passed then you would develop onto Grammar or Tech school which lead to university. If
you failed then the next step was secondary modern then onto a job. Although every child moved onto
secondary education there is still criticism to be made. Some argue that 11 years old was too young to
decide a child’s future. Also the social divide still remained as it was mainly middle classes that went to
grammar school and the working class children who went to secondary moderns. This fails to make the
impact that was needed as it was the working class who were in most need of a good quality education. In
addition out of the 1176 new schools that were built only 250 were secondary, which was the most
needed. Therefore although the need of education was not fully met as middle classes needs for a more
equal society wasn’t met, however the fact that education became free cannot be ignored
Inadequate healthcare was a problem for British people. They needed a health service which supported
them, especially since families were excluded from the 1911 National Insurance and they did not have the
money to pay for health care so they went without. Labour met this need relatively well. In 1948 the
Labour government had a significant breakthrough when they introduced the National Health Service.
Doctor’s appointments, hospital treatments, specialist services and medication were all free to everyone
including it the most and effectively dropped infant mortality from 300 per million to 48 per million. In
addition 187 million prescriptions were issued in
the 1st year. This free NHS removed divide therefore having a big impact as evidence suggests 5 million
glasses were given in the first year and 8.5 million dental patients were treated. However the all radical
NHS was too expensive to be funded by National Insurance so as a result taxes were raised. In addition in
1951, prescription charges were introduced so by closer analysis if the evidence it suggests that the NHS
was not completely free as it’s made out to be. However, this essay would argue that the NHS provided
healthcare for everyone and was to access and although it has faults evidence suggests an improvement in
the peoples health care service has made an impact.
Unemployment was a concern as Labour worried that high unemployment of 30s would return. To
provide jobs men who joined the army after May 1939 were guaranteed their jobs back and those unable
to find work have the facility of training centres that provided training in 30 industries and by 1946
unemployment was 2.6%. The Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer claimed this was “the greatest
revolution brought about by the Labour government”. However it can be argued that unemployment
levels kept low by school leaving numbers increasing. In 1951 there were still 253,000 unemployed
suggested the Labour government made quite a small impact on employment for the British people.
In conclusion this essay would argue that the Labour Welfare reforms made a relatively large impact on
the British people. Undoubtedly the greatest achievement was the establishment of the NHS and free care,
which remains the envy of other countries today. In comparison with 1945, by 1951 people in Britain
now had access to housing, income in times of need, free education, healthcare and support finding work.
Granted, when examined individually the labour reforms all had their faults especially housing. And a big
flaw is their failure to stamp out the social divide. However this essay believes that the impact of the
reforms have to be looked at overall. While one family may not be provided with a house, it’s children
had access to free education, they could see a doctor when required and know that financial support was
available if it was needed. Where Labour’s reforms may be criticised it is mainly not through lack of
effort. For example housing affected by shortage of supplies, increase in births. Certainly life for people
in 1951 was much better than in 1945, Labour truly had created “a new Jerusalem”