SOCIAL POLICY

History & Development of Social Policy in Britain

History & Development of Social Policy in Britain

Task - 1

Social Policy Reforms in 1834

The Poor Law of 1834 was a major development in British Social Policy and with it the Whigs brought about a renewed efficiency in the governmnet's approach to mange social policy. Changes during the indusrial revolution resulted in the development of numerous towns and rapid population exploision. The Poor Law aimed to tackle this by introducting prison reforms, factory reforms, the establishment of a foundation of the local government in all the major towns, and policies that abolished from Britain certain negative American customs such as slavery. The law was a significant development in Social Policy as it helped in the creation of workhouses, and provided employment to those who were dependent on public assistance (impoverished artisans, poor peasants, the unemployed, and disabled workers). The heaviest changes were made in these institutions with the aim of getting the poor out of fear of being put in a workhouse to look for work in the factories (Pete, 2008).

Social Policy Reforms During the Liberal Government Era

It was the Liberal government that mainly laid the foundation in Britain for the provision of contemporary social services. With growing concerns related to national efficiency, the determination to establish a general infrastructure that encouraged the provision of public services increased significantly. As a consequence, a wide range of social services were intentionally offered to the public outside the norms of the Poor Law, mainly in order to avoid the stigma that was attached with pauperism. By 1905, the Unemployed Workmen Act was introduced which provided financial assistance to the the unemployed. The Education Act of 1906 was consequently introduced by the Liberal government and free meals were offered to children who attended school in order to enbcourage them to pursue education. The Liberal government also set the Old Age Pensions Law in 1908, the primary aim of which was to provide financial assistance to the old and the retired.

Social Policy Reforms in 1942

The 1942 was the year when, in the United Kingdom, social security took a decisive step forward thanks to the so-called Beveridge Report, compiled by economist William Beveridge, who introduced and defined the concepts of public health and social pension for citizens. These proposals were implemented by the labor Mild Attlee became Prime Minister in 1945. It was Sweden in 1948 the first country to introduce the popular board based on birthright. The welfare became so universal and equaled the civil and political rights acquired, in fact, at birth. At the same time the economy experienced an exponential growth of the GDP while the infant welfare state was the basis of the increase in public spending (Postan & Habakkuk, 1966, Pp. 200-221).

Task - 2

In 1942, the British economist and Fabian Sir William Beveridge (1879-1963) described the parliament of social security systems and the Federal social services to the poor. Beveridge recommended that the government always look for ways to destroy the five giants ...