Critically examine government attempt to deal with the problems of unemployment and health in inter-war Britain.

Learning Outcomes:
1. Identify and interpret primary and secondary sources.
2.Outline the major issues and themes involved in the development of British welfare provision.
3. Explore and evaluate the forces and concerns that have influenced welfare provision.
4. Demonstrate the link s between past and present in social policy debates.

SAMPLE SOLUTION

Government Attempt to Deal with the Problems of Unemployment and Health in Inter-War Britain The interwar poverty, unemployment and health issue defines the difficulty period experienced between 1918 and 1939. The most dominant issue during the period was unemployment with the levels hitting a high peak of 3 million (20% of the working populace) in 1933. The period immediately after the First World War was characterized by a decline in the birth rates and a boom in the economy resulting in the increase of real wages (Constantine, 2014). Besides, there was observed higher participation levels among young married women in the economic activities which increased the real income of an average family with a marked reduction of dependents (Harris, 2017). The years also represented a period of improved food supply and housing which were evident in the critical statistics of the time including the reduction of the death rates from 13.8 in 1918 to 9.3 in 1937 in South Wales and England (Karlsson, 2015). Ten more years were also added to the average life expectancy. Indeed, the infant mortality rates dropped from 110 deaths in 1910 to 61 per one thousand live births in 1940. However, the rise in employment did not last long as soon after, the levels declined rapidly. With the increasing rates of unemployment…