Beveridge Report (Pictorial charts with explanatory notes)
1943-01 1943 1940s 14 pages : illustrations 4. opponents are beginning to be heard........ The powers that be have taken the inconceivably stupid step of suppressing an issue of the pamphlets on current affairs issued periodically to the Forces....... Such action is the very negation of democracy an...
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| Institution: | MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
January-February 1943
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/9AA56E15-D0EE-48AC-B372-F3CA11E13DB4 http://hdl.handle.net/10796/9B0A6745-77FB-47F0-9FD9-A10C2A6AA1D1 |
| Summary: | 1943-01
1943
1940s
14 pages : illustrations
4. opponents are beginning to be heard........ The powers that be have taken the inconceivably stupid step of suppressing an issue of the pamphlets on current affairs issued periodically to the Forces....... Such action is the very negation of democracy and an insult to the very considerable section of the population now on active service. Those who believe that the Beveridge Report opens the way to a happier and securer life for the people, must make themselves familiar with its provisions and be prepared to defend it against critics and opponents." (25.1.43) In the forefront of its opponents are the great Insurance Companies, whose present position Sir William Beveridge attacks. The Insurance Companies. The basic fact that emerges from the examination of industrial assurance in the Report is the scandalously high administrative costs of the present system. Of every £1 paid in premiums 7s. 6d. is used for the expenses of administration. Another point which should be noted is the enormous proportion of policies taken out which fail to reach maturity - the result of fees being paid to agents for obtaining new business, which is clearly against the interests of the insured. In view of the facts it is hardly surprising that the memorandum issued by the Industrial Associations (insurance companies) is highly critical of the Beveridge plan. It should be noted, however, that the manager of the Co-operative Insurance Society, which is the fifth largest, stated: "We are not parties to the objections which have been raised by the industrial companies. The only qualification we make is that, in any scheme which may be worked out, all insurance companies shall be treated alike. If they are, and if it is going to be for the betterment of the working-classes in general, then we say quite definitely that we welcome the plan." (Manchester Guardian. 4.1.43.) Deciding the issue. Speaking of the anticipated opposition from certain quarters, the Times (9.12.42) states: "No great administrative reform can be accomplished without some sacrifice on the part of interests affected by it. The Beveridge proposals call for a surrender of authority by several Government departments, by the local authorities, and by the Friendly Societies and insurance companies. The scope and importance of their residual functions remaining to those bodies after the transfer will, however, be such as to afford little reasonable ground of opposition to the changes envisaged." Whilst the Beveridge Report is still in the stage of public discussion, we may recall the words with which Sir William brings his Report to an end - "Freedom from want cannot be forced on a democracy or given to a democracy. It must be won by them. Winning it needs courage and faith and a sense of national unity: courage to face facts and difficulties and overcome them; faith in our future and in the ideals of fair-play and freedom for which century after century our forefathers were prepared to die; a sense of national unity overriding the interests of any class or section."
126/TG/377/1/1/153 |
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| Physical Description: | TEXT |