蒙大英语国家-英国概况教案06-2British Family andWelfare (II)

Lecture SixThe Welfare State(By Wang Yan)I. What is a welfare state?A welfare state is a concept of government where the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a good life. The general term may cover a variety of forms of economic and social organization The operations of the welfare state are in four main parts National insurance National Health Service Supplementary benefits are provided for people whose incomes are too low Services for the benefit of childrenII. History of Welfare StateBrief History of Welfare State in Britaino Help serviced by parishes ,early 17th cent.o Poor Law of 1834 discouraged people from applying for relief, the unemployed made stay in “workhouses” “Oliver Twist”, 1837o Major Reform in 1908 - National insurance schemes founded, enabling some people to cover medical & retirement cost.o Foundations of what came to be known as “the Welfare State” Workhouseso Workhouse, Winchestero Workhouse, AndoverThe Poor Law in 1834o OLIVER TWIST o Charles DickensDickens Centre, Rochestero Summer House -Portsmouth Museumo House he bought at his home towno LibraryIII. Aims of the post-World War II welfare legislationo The most radical and widespread reforms occurred after the Second World War in 1945. The measures introduced then were based upon a famous document, the Beveridge Report of 1942. The main aims of the legislation which followed the Report wereo Lord William Henry Beveridge, 1879-1963 Main Aims of Legislation after the Beveridge Report o to create a system where housing, health services and social security (payments for unemployment, old age, sickness, disability, children) would be provided for all, as an egalitarian safety-net below which nobody would be able to fallo to establish a National Health Service (1947) for all to receive free diagnosis, treatment and hospitalisation when necessary.IV. WELFARE IN BRITAIN THE PRESENTo The three main areas of welfare provision in Britain are health, housing and social security o The post-war welfare structure has always been a combination of public and private provisiono From the 1980s those who could afford to have been encouraged to provide for their own health and retirement by paying into private insurance schemes. o Despite these changes, there are still a wide range of state benefits available to those in need. o (a) Social Securityo For those who become unemployed, sick, or who are working on a low wage with a family to support, they may claim either job seekers allowance, income support or working families tax credit. DSS processes these claims o Other benefits available include o the Social Fund which is used to make one-off payments in emergencies or for special necessary purchases o sickness benefito widows pension and widowed mothers allowanceo disablement allowance if you are badly disabled V. Healtho The National Health Serviceo Although since the 1980s some changes have been made in management, the principle of comprehensive and free medical treatment for all, based upon need rather than the ability to pay, is still the central philosophy of the service. HousingVI. Housingo 82% of households in Britain live in houses rather than flats. This compares with 60% in France and 35% in Italy. Housing in Britain is either privately owned or provided by funds from the government as the public sector. The government controls the proportion of private and public housing provision in a number of ways through its housing policy Housingo Public Sector Housing Past & Presento Part of the philosophy behind the Beveridge Report was that o the State should be responsible for the provision of adequate housingo nobody need be housed in squalor o minimal standards of housing should be set o Local government authorities were to be given responsibility in ensuring that an adequate housing stock was available in their authority and in maintaining the standards set by government Housingo 1950s and 1960s Post War slum clearanceo The 1980s: Sale of Council Houseso Many people disagreed with this policyo Local Council Responsibilitieso he local council still has a number of responsibilities to provide adequate housing and meet special housing needs in its area, usually through the local Social Services Department o Private Sector Housingo Housing Benefitso Help with housing costs has always been part of the provision of the Welfare State, either for people on low incomes or for people unexpectedly or temporarily out of work through illness or unemployment. This benefit is administered by local governmento The 1961 three-bedro