Effectiveness of Labour Reforms in Britain

• Introduction

  The experiences of war helped to pave the way for the formation of the new welfare state after 1945. The social impact of WW2 - bombing, rationing, evacuation - removed class barriers and increased state dependency. These reforms tackled the '5 Giants' or 5 evils of society which were detailed in the Beveridge report, seen as the blue print for the modern welfare state.

  1. Want
  2. Disease
  3. Squalor
  4. Ignorance
  5. Idleness

  The Labour Government met the needs of the British people to a certain extent as only some of the issues were addressed correctly.
• Ignorance (education) Knowledge

  the education act 1944 raised the school leaving age to 15 and made the provision of school meals and milk compulsory. attendance of primary and secondary school was also made compulsory. this act also created a system which saw children sit a test at 11 to determine which school to attend, determining academic ability.
• Ignorance (education) Analysis

  this is significant because as the school leaving age rose to 15, children could focus on their education for longer and those who passed the 11+ test and attended the grammar schools largely received a good education with the best teachers so the upper and middle classes benefitted the most.
• Ignorance (education) Evaluation

  upon evaluation, ignorance was addressed less than disease because many historians agree that if passed, the exam system worked well, but if failed then it restricted the rest of their lives.
• Squalor (poor housing) Analysis

  this was significant because in all, about 1 million houses were built by labour between 1945 and 1951. in council houses, tenants could not be exploited by their landlord and rent was 1/3 of that in the private sector.
• Squalor (poor housing) Analysis+

  however, this was less significant as poor housing and homelessness were still serious problems at the end of the labour period. there were 750,000 fewer houses than households in Britain in 1951. this was roughly the same level of homelessness as in 1931.
• Squalor (poor housing) Evaluation

  upon evaluation, the labour reforms addressed squalor the least because council houses was not the right way to tackle squalor and it left the situation just as bad as before. this can be backed up by Timmins who says 'traditionally, housing has been branded as the welfare state failure of Bevan and the 1945 labour government'.
• Disease Knowledge


  the national health service act 1946 provided a universal health service without any insurance qualifications. it provided GP services, hospital treatment, eye treatment and glasses. it had 3 main aims: to be comprehensive, free at the point of use and having universal access of use. prescriptions were also free.
• Disease Analysis+

  however, this was less significant as by 1950 cracks were showing. costs were enormous - £358 million - way above the governments budgeted £140 million for each year. as a result, charges were introduced for glasses, prescriptions and dental treatment, which undermined the principle of free healthcare for all.
• Disease Evaluation

  upon evaluation, disease was addressed more than squalor because creating the NHS was a massive accomplishment and it helped the general health of the country while preventing death. it can be considered labours greatest achievement. squalor was addressed less as council houses were built into estates that were out with walking distance from other towns and therefore shops and other amenities.
• Want (poverty) Knowledge

  the family allowances act 1945 gave a small amount of money weekly to all mothers of two or more children. the national insurance act 1946 meant insured people were entitled to unemployment, sickness, maternity and widows benefits. they would also receive retirement pensions and a death grant for funeral expenses.
• Want (poverty) Analysis

  this was significant because as it was paid to mothers, they were viewed as the people who would spend the money on what their children and household needs. the national insurance act also gave every Briton entitlement to help from the government, regardless of age, wealth or gender, showing a significant improvement from before.
• Want (poverty) Analysis+


  however, this was less significant because there were criticisms such as the weekly contributions took up 5% of peoples weekly earnings and sickness benefits were only available to those who had made 156 weekly contributions.
• Want (poverty) Evaluation


  upon evaluation, the labour reforms helped want most because Rowntree found that primary poverty had been reduced to 3% in 1950 from 36% in 1936.