The Welfare State
Lesson Objectives
 I will get the opportunity to develop my
understanding of the principles that
established the Welfare State.
 I will get the opportunity to develop my
understanding of the “five giants” that the
Welfare State would address.
What is a welfare state?
‘Welfare State’ (n) a system where the state provides
benefits in such areas as unemployment, medicine,
education and housing.
Background to the Welfare State
 Sir William Beveridge’s report into the
Welfare State was published in 1942.
 There was a feeling that the social class unity
needed to defeat the Nazis should be used to
create a new country, where there was greater
equality and the rich made more of a
contribution to Government services.
 This was accepted by all political parties
between 1945 to 1979. This is known as the
“post-war consensus.”
Development of the Welfare State
 When watching the video clip consider the
following questions;
What services would the welfare state provide?
2. What was the aim of the NHS?
3. How would freedom from want be achieved?
4. When would people receive social security?
1.
 Post-WWII Development of British Welfare State
The Five Giants
 In his report Beveridge identified “five gaints
standing in the way of social progress.” A
solution was offered for each of the giants.
GIANT
SOLUTION
Want (Poverty)
Social security e.g. Jobseekers’ Allowance,
sick pay etc.
Disease
The NHS
Ignorance
Expansion of education, particularly of
secondary schools.
Squalor
Adequate housing e.g. investment in social
housing.
Idleness
Full employment i.e. everyone should have a
job.
The Principles of the Welfare State
 What principles/values do you think the UK
needs to have a welfare state? (Think about
funding it, who gets help, how much help?)
 Work in pairs and be ready to feed your
answers back to the class.
The Principles of the Welfare State
Principle
Purpose
Collectivist
The state would fund the services needed
through taxation and National Insurance.
Universal
The services provided for the population would
be “free at the point of need.”
Comprehensive The state would provide for all aspects of
need – it would care for the population from
“the cradle to the grave.”
Equality
Equal provision for all people in all regions.
Is it possible to meet these principles?
 Reading pages 8 to 10 identify how the
principles are met or not met.
Principle
Collectivist
Universal
Comprehensive
Equality
Met
Not Met
Principle
Met
Not Met
Collectivist
Social housing
Education
“Right to buy”
University fees
Universal
NHS still largely universal
Free education to 16
Child benefit until Apr
2013
Charges for prescriptions
(England), dental care and
eye care
Expansion of means
tested benefits
introduced by Labour
End of universal Child
Benefit by Coalition Govt.
Comprehensive
The NHS would care for
all aspects of health
The new towns
The postcode lottery
The “Right to Buy” scheme
Equality
Across the country the
NHS has attempted to
provide more specialised
services.
Postcode lottery
Healthcare rationing
Access to
drugs/treatment.
Possible Essay Questions
 2012 - The UK’s Welfare State continues to
meet its aims. Discuss.
 2007 - To what extent are the founding
principles of the Welfare State being met?
Conclusion
 The Welfare State was established in the 1940s.
 The aim of the Welfare State was to slay the
giants of; idleness, want, ignorance, disease and
squalor.
 The Welfare State was found on the principles of;
collectivist, universality, comprehensive and
equality.
 These principles still underpin the Welfare State
today but are a source of much debate.