The Beveridge Report - 1941
In May 1941, William Beveridge was appointed chairman of a committee with a brief to prepare 'a survey of the existing schemes of social insurance and allied services, including workmen's compensation, and to make recommendations'.
In December 1942 he published his 'Report on Social Insurance and Allied Services'.
The 'Beveridge Report' as became known, proposed a plan to establish full security for all British citizens 'from the cradle to the grave' and was the original foundation for the post-war welfare state.
The report proposed that all people of working age should pay a weekly 'National Insurance' contribution. In return, benefits would be paid to people who were sick, unemployed or widowed.
It also, crucially, provided them with an income from the state when they retired.
Beveridge argued that this system would provide a minimum standard of living 'below which no one should be allowed to fall'.
However, when Beveridge produced his report, the average worker in the UK was male, started work at 16, stayed with the same firm until retiring at 65, and died about 2 years later.
This meant that the retirement income from the state would typically, only be paid for two years.
Further to the 1941 Beveridge Report, the basic state pension was introduced on 1 July 1948.
