Government's proposals for compen• A Social Security Plan for Great Britain: sation for disablement or loss of life from industrial injury or specified The Government's White Paper * occupational diseases. The Govern• ment agrees with Sir William that the present system is "based on a wrong IN JUNE 1941, the British Government individuals have little or no control, principle and has been dominated by asked Sir William Beveridge to recom• Neither course alone is effective. A a wrong outlook." Instead of the mend changes in the existing pro• nation cannot avoid widespread pov• concept of compensation for indus• grams for social insurance and allied erty if earning power is impaired by trial injury as an employer liability, services. His report, presented in unemployment or inefficiency, and, the Government presents it as a social November 1942,1 outlined a social regardless of high production levels, service. Both employers and workers security plan for "all citizens without a nation has not solved its problems if would contribute, but the benefits, upper income limit—all embracing in it includes any appreciable groups paid weekly at fixed rates with sup• scope of persons and needs," based on who are in want because their earn• plements for family responsibilities, assumptions that the Government ing power is reduced by ill-health, un• would not depend on the contribution would take other measures to prevent employment, old age, or inability to record. The system proposed "is in mass unemployment, would establish provide properly for their children. many respects like that which is the comprehensive health services, and When the present proposals, modified basis of war pensions schemes. It would provide children's allowances. by public opinion and Parliamentary thus recognizes a certain similarity Early this year, the Government is• debate, are given the force of law, and between the position of the soldier sued White Papers on proposed meas• the necessary "mosaic of details" has wounded in battle and that of the ures to combat unemployment and been worked out by the administra• man injured in the course of his pro• provide Nation-wide health services.2 tive agencies concerned, "provision ductive work for the community . The White Paper outlining proposals will have been made against every one each is compensated not for loss of for family allowances, social insur• of the main attacks which economic earning capacity but for whatever he ance, national assistance, and work• ill-fortune can launch against indi• has lost in health, strength and the men's compensation was presented in vidual well-being and peace of mind. power to enjoy life." September.3 Social insurance is but a means to The White Paper does not detail the With this White Paper, the British achieving positive effort and abun• Government's earlier recommenda• Government rounds out its compre• dant living. Yet it is a necessary tions for medical and hospital care hensive social and economic policy. means." for the entire population, to be The first duty of Government, the The Government pays tribute to financed in the main from general White Paper points out, is to protect Sir William Beveridge for his "com• tax funds with a grant from the social the country from external aggression; prehensive and imaginative report" insurance fund. Proposals for insur• the second, to secure the general pros• by embodying much of his plan in its ance and assistance assume, however, perity and happiness of its people. proposals. On details of contribution that everyone in the population, re• The Government must first foster and benefit, it sometimes proposes gardless of income, insurance status, growth of capacity to produce and more, sometimes less; basically, how• occupational class, or other qualifi• earn, with accompanying increase in ever, the Government plan, like the cation, will have access without charge well-being, leisure, and recreation, Beveridge report, provides a unified to any needed maintenance and care and, second, must plan to prevent in• program of social security for the en• in a hospital and to the services of dividual poverty resulting from haz• tire population, using the contribu• medical practitioners in the home, ards of personal fortune over which tory principle as according best with office, and hospital. The cost of the the desires, characteristics, and social health services is included in the legislation of the British people. social security budget. * Prepared in the Division of Publica• tions and Review, Office of the Executive Building on existing programs that There still remains, the White Director. since 1911 have "grown steadily in Paper declares, "the individual's op• 1 Social Insurance and Allied Services; scope and thoroughness," the Gov• portunity to achieve for himself in Report by Sir William Beveridge, Cmd. ernment would extend social insur• sickness, old age and other condi• 6404, H. M. Stationery Office, London, 1942, summarized in Social Security Bulletin, ance in range and amount of benefits tions of difficulty a standard of com• Vol. 6, No. 1 (January 1943), pp. 3-30. and in coverage. Insurance pay• fort and amenity which it is no part 2 Great Britain: Employment Policy, ments would comprise unemployment, of a compulsory scheme of social in• Cmd. 6527, H. M. Stationery Office, Lon• sickness, invalidity, and maternity surance to provide. And in reserve don, 1944, summarized in Social Security benefits, retirement pensions, survivor Bulletin, Vol. 7, No. 9 (September 1944) there must remain a scheme of Na• pp. 20-22, and A National Health Service, benefits, and death grants. tional Assistance designed to fill the Cmd. 6502, H. M. Stationery Office, London, Outside the insurance system, but inevitable gaps left by insurance and 1944, summarized in Social Security Bulle• an integral part of the plan, would to supplement it where an examina• tin, Vol. 7, No. 3 (March 1944), pp. 12-18. be family allowances, to help meet the tion of individual needs shows that 3 Great Britain: Ministry of Reconstruc• tion, Social Insurance, Part I, Cmd. 6550, economic burden of rearing children, supplement is necessary." Assistance, and Part II, Workmen's Compensation, and training allowances for persons financed from general taxation and Cmd. 6551, H. M. Stationery Office, Lon• of working age. administered in close coordination don, 1944. American edition published by The White Paper also develops the the Macmillan Co., New York. with the insurance program, would Table 1.—Great Britain: Summary of social security provisions proposed by Government for each population class Population class Program Class V. Children under Class IV. Others of 15, or under 16 if in Class I. Employed persons 1 Class II. Others gainfully Class III. Housewives working age, not gain• school; and occupied fully occupied Class VI. Retired per• sons above working age Total population Class V Class VI (47,500,000) 18,100,000 2,600,000 9,650,000 2,250,000 10,100,000 4,800,000 Male (22,850,000) 13,350,000 2,150,000 1,000,000 5,150,000 1,200,000 Female (24,650,000) 4,750,000 450,000 9,650,000 1,250,000 4,950,000 3,600,000 Assistance and services financed wholly or mainly 2 from general taxation Family allowances Universal allowance of 5s. a week for all but one child of eligible age; school meals and milk for all school children without proof of need. Medical care and hos• pitalization 2 Universal unlimited service without charge or proof of economic need. Public assistance Available on proof of need to all with inadequate income from insurance or other resources. Vocational allowances Cash allowance continuing not more than 4 weeks after end of course and free instruction to all who desire paid employment and training 2 Cash benefits and qualifications under contributory social insurance plan 3 Unemployment bene• If wife living with and maintained byDependent' husband ands earns allowanc not moree thanClas 20s.s a V.—5sweek, husband. a wee receivesk for joint benefit fits 24s. aweek for single person; 40s., husband and non• of 16s. a week to 1 de• gainfully occupied wife; (40s) when he is unemployed. No benefit payable for her unemploymentchil unlessd o shef eligibl herselfe isag insurede ex• (Class I) 20s., married woman in• pendent of person re• cluded from family al• sured in own right. Dura- ceiving benefit at sin• lowance. ation 30 weeks. Require• gle rate. ment—26 contributions paid and 50 paid or ex• cused in preceding year; 3-day waiting period com• pensated if unemployed 4 weeks. Sickness benefits (tem• 24s. a week for a single per• Same as for Class I except If wife living with and Dependent's allowance Class V— 5s. a week for porary) 1 son; 40s. husband and non- that no benefits are pay• maintained by husband of 16s. a week to 1 de• child of eligible age ex• gainfully occupied wife; able for first 4 weeks of and earns not more than pendent of person re• 16s. married woman in• sickness. 20s. a week, husband re• cluded from family sured in own right. Dur• ceives joint benefit (40s.) ceiving benefit at sin• allowance. ation 3 years if 156 contri• when he is ill. No bene• gle rate. butions paid; only 1 year fit payable for her illness if 26-155 contributions. 3- unless she herself is in• day waiting period com• sured (Class I or II). pensated if sick 4 weeks. Maternity grant Flat sum of £4 for all women regardless of class, if 26 contributions paid by husband or wife and 26 contributions paid or excused in contribution year. Maternity benefits 36s. a week for 13 weeks. 36s. a week for 13 weeks. Attendant's allowance of Allowance of 20s.