The Changes Introduced by the Labour Governments

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The Changes Introduced by the Labour Governments

Some of the changes that the labour government introduced between

1945-51 were very profound. For instance the changes that were made by

the government to tackle the five giant evils of society. The

Government wanted to tackle Squalor, want, illness, disease and

idleness. The introduction of the NHS was hugely profound. In 1945-6

Aneurin Bevan accepted the fundamental principle of a free and

universal medical service, directly financed by the state. This change

made by the labour government was revolutionary because it provided

medical help to all people that was not possible before. It enabled

the poor to be able to be treated for a disease that was not possible

before because they could not afford be privately treated.

There were other changes that the government had made that were seen

as very profound. After the war the British public had lost no fewer

then 700,000 homes and much of the existing stock was damaged as well.

In 1947 a higher standard of council houses had been provided for the

working class. Also a change made by labour was the introduction of

new towns in the countryside, such a Crawley and Basildon. With these

new towns created it relieved the pressure on great cities like

London. In total between 1945-51 labour built over one million new

houses, together with half a million temporary houses and as well as

this repairs on thousands of homes damaged in the war. These changes

made by labour on housing were reasonable but were not seen as hugely

profound.

Labour made less profound changes to education in Britain. Labour did

increase the budget for education considerably, and the school leaving

age was raised to 15. However no real debate on the aims and

organisation of education really took place. So the changes made in

education between 1945-51 suggest that the changes of the labour

government were not that profound.

However the national insurance act of 1946 was a hugely profound

change made by the labour government.

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