FAMILY ALLOWANCES

1. What were family allowances? When were they introduced? How did they benefit women? What were family allowances? When were they introduced? How did they benefit women? FAMILY ALLOWANCES Family allowances had been one of the items proposed by the Beveridge Report in 1942. The Labour Party briefly debated pressing for allowances during the Second World War, but a party conference resolution to this end was opposed by the trades unions for fear that the amount paid would be taken into account in wage negotiations, leaving workers no better off. As passed, the Act empowered the Minister of National Insurance to pay an allowance of five shillings per week for each child in a family other than the eldest; later Acts increased this sum. It was payable whilst the child was of school age, up to the age of eighteen, if apprenticed or in full-time school education. FAMILY ALLOWANCES Family allowances had been one of the items proposed by the Beveridge Report in 1942. The Labour Party briefly debated pressing for allowances during the Second World War, but a party conference resolution to this end was opposed by the trades unions for fear that the amount paid would be taken into account in wage negotiations, leaving workers no better off. As passed, the Act empowered the Minister of National Insurance to pay an allowance of five shillings per week for each child in a family other than the eldest; later Acts increased this sum. It was payable whilst the child was of school age, up to the age of eighteen, if apprenticed or in full-time school education.

2. What was the NHS? When and why was it introduced? How did it benefit women (and families) What was the NHS? When and why was it introduced? How did it benefit women (and families) NHS • The principles of the NHS were to provide a comprehensive service funded by taxation, available to all and free at the time of need. • With continued food rationing, a housing shortage, spiralling tuberculosis death rates and on the back of an exceptionally severe winter the welfare state could not have come at a better time for post-war Britain. • Nurses clearly took to heart the words of then Chief Nursing Officer Dame Elizabeth Cockayne: ‘We find ourselves doing things with patients and not just for them as previously, leading them to self direction and graduated degrees of independence. As a profession we need to become increasingly self-analytical and to examine what we are doing and why.’ • Benefits for women included: • Maternity care – pre-natal and ante-natal care • Midwives • Paediatricians and Obstetrician • Breast Cancer screening • Cervical Cancer screening • Free dental and eye care NHS • The principles of the NHS were to provide a comprehensive service funded by taxation, available to all and free at the time of need. • With continued food rationing, a housing shortage, spiralling tuberculosis death rates and on the back of an exceptionally severe winter the welfare state could not have come at a better time for post-war Britain. • Nurses clearly took to heart the words of then Chief Nursing Officer Dame Elizabeth Cockayne: ‘We find ourselves doing things with patients and not just for them as previously, leading them to self direction and graduated degrees of independence. As a profession we need to become increasingly self-analytical and to examine what we are doing and why.’ • Benefits for women included: • Maternity care – pre-natal and ante-natal care • Midwives • Paediatricians and Obstetrician • Breast Cancer screening • Cervical Cancer screening • Free dental and eye care

3. The National Insurance Act In 1946 the Clement Attlee and his Labour Government passed the revolutionary National Insurance Act that created the structure of the Welfare State. The legislation instituted a comprehensive state health service, effective from 5th July 1948. The Act provided for compulsory contributions for unemployment, sickness, maternity and widows' benefits and old age pensions from employers and employees, with the government funding the balance. The benefits for women included the following: Maternity pay If you are working and have a baby, whether you work full or part time, you have the right to receive Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) as long as you meet certain conditions. Find out about these conditions and your rights. The basics of maternity pay The maternity pay benefits you might get will vary depending on your circumstances. Usually you will claim statutory or contractual maternity pay from your employer. There are also a number of other benefits which you may be entitled to. Contractual (company) maternity pay Your employer might have their own maternity pay scheme. Check your contract of employment or staff handbook, or ask your employer's human resource (HR) department. Some company schemes require you to pay back some money if you don't come back to work. However, you must be paid at least as much as SMP (if you qualify), which doesn't have to be repaid. Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) You can get Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) for up to 39 weeks, as long as you meet the conditions. What is ‘National Insurance’ and when was it introduced? Why was the National Insurance Act introduced after World War Two? How did women benefit from National Insurance?