The Beveridge report in 1942, illustrated five interrelated social problems, which the British Welfare State was designed to tackle, these were Want, Disease, Ignorance, Idleness and Squalor. (Moran, M et al 2001).

This report was published in order to find a solution to Britain's social ill's, which had multiplied during the Great Depression of the 1930's and the experience of the Second World War. With the publication of this report it was realised that the Laissez-Faire style of government was inadequate in providing a safety net for the disadvantaged members of British society, and that a comprehensive system of welfare was required.

Although the concept was in place, much of the system of welfare that we see today was not initiated until the Labour government came to power in 1945. They then passed key legislation such as The Family Allowance Act 1945, Housing Acts of 1946 and 1949 which brought about subsidy to tackle the housing problem. National Insurance acts of 1946 and 1948 which provided a comprehensive benefits system for all unemployed, disabled, elderly and survivors and The National Health Service Act 1948, (Budge, I et al 1998) which, initi

There is however an independent report into NHS funding currently in progress, and there is little doubt that its findings will spark the debate on how to finance the modernisation of the service. Even as this essay is written the Prime Minister has been discussing some of the ideas that have emerged. These include the controversial "Health Tax", which is a proposal to raise a "ring fenced" tax to be raised specifically to pay for the service. This idea, put forward by the Health Secretary Alan Milburn, has it's opponents already, notably his own Chancellor Gordon Brown who, along with Mr Blair, say that finances would be better raised through general taxation.(BBC News,27/02/2002) Again though, the post script is that nothing will be ruled in or out until the solution to the problem is found.

The Conservative leader Ian Duncan Smith, along with the shadow Health Secretary, is in the process of holding a series of seminars, which include open debate with health care professionals. These are designed to create a forum for an exchange of ideas with which the Conservative Party hope to modernise their policy of healthcare.

In conclusion, the welfare state and the NHS in particular, was set up to bridge the gap between the classes that was highlighted by the depression. The fundamental principles of the service were to provide free health care for all, to be paid for by a system of taxation and National Insurance contributions. The service has since been the subject of much reform and debate because of the finance spent on it, the various interest groups involved in it, but mainly because it affects us all in one way or another. Illustrations of conflicting philosophy appear every time there is a change in government, however at the moment hostilities appear to be suspended until the Wanless report is published. Even after it's publication, as the main parties are in agreement that Britain should seek to reform but also maintain the right to free health care, it only remains to be seen what changes the government will implement.

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Some common words found in the essay are:
Medical Association, Labour Conservatives, Nye Bevan, National Insurance, DHA's GP, World War, Wales Scotland, Duncan Smith, Health Service, Conservative Party, et al, health care, al 1998, et al 1998, health service, provide free, free health care, free health, national insurance, budge et al, duncan smith, health authorities, acts 1946, national health service, national insurance contributions,
Approximate Word count = 1406
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)