Chapter 3 Notes Welfare State of Britian

Chapter 3 Notes

Welfare State of Britain

A welfare state uses a system in which the government uses tax revenue to look after the welfare of its citizens from cradle to grave. Free Social Services such as health and education, old age pensions and financial support for the disabled or unemployed by the government.

Origins: Early 20Th Century: After World WWII, there was a period of high unemployment, poverty. shortage of food, fuel, lack of medical and social services. The government started to act on Beveridge's plans to create a welfare state to look after its citizens for life.

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Aims of British Govt.(Create a welfare state that looked after the welfare of citizens from cradle to grave.)

Measures taken

Nationalised Public Utilities & important industries

• Took after the management of public utilities like electricity and gas, port authorities, railway and bus companies, coal mining and steel making industries

Provision of Social Welfare

1. Create a basket of welfare benefits to ease hardship caused by poverty,sickness or unemployment.
   
2. Maternity grants and allowance
3. Child Benefits
4. Sickness, injury unemployment,supplement benefit
5. Retirement,pension
6. Death Grant
7. Money came from government and taxes collected from workers and employers.

Impact of Provision of Social Welfare

• To ensure that every citizen would have a minumum standard of welfare for a decent life.

Provided health & Medical care

• Created the National Health Service (NHS) to provide free medical,dental and even optical treatment for all citizens.
• Money came from taxes and workers insurance payments.

Impact of provison of Health and Medical Care

• The NHS was set up to provide free healthcare for its people at the point of need.
• The people do not have to pay for the medical treatments that they receive when they are attended by doctors at clinics and hospitals.
• Initally, the NHS was very popular with the people.
• However, the increase in demand went beyond expectations.
• In addition, doctors used treatments without much consideration for cost.
• By 1951, the NHS was unable to meet expectations of a healthcare system that was "free at the point of service"
• Medical treatments were no longer free. NHS had to charge a small fee for medicine given to patients.

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Aims of British government (1980s-Present ) Reform the NHS to meet the needs of the public.

Managing government spending

• Cutting back on government spending on welfare benefits.
• In order to create a system to make the individual more responsible for his own healthcare & Welfare.

Impact of Measures(Managing government spending)

• However.this was difficult as it was impossible to remove free healthcare without losing government support.
• reduction of government spending would also mean the inability to provide free healthcare services.
• The British government has tried to manage government spending while meeting the people's needs at the same time- BUT NOT VERY SUCCESSFUL as increase in government spending would mean increase in contributions to National Insurance to finance the NHS.

Increasing Efficiency

• Privatisation within the NHS-e.g. contracting out non-medical services e.g. laundry , cleaning and catering in hospitals.
• To reduce government subsides, save costs and make the NHS more efficient.
• With privatisation, patients would have more choices and hospitals would have to improve services to meet the people's needs.

Impact of Increasing efficiency

• British citizens were encouraged to take responsibility for their own welfare and health.
• Medical treatments were no longer free except for a few group of people.
  

Providing Quality Service

• NHS needed to modernise to meet the demands of the public.
• Focus on providing quality service for patients.
• Patients were given more information to help them decide their own treatment and care.

Other Improvements

• NHS Plan 2000 where changes were made based on feedback from staff and patients.
• It also planned to work towards offering patients faster and more convenient services-by letting NHS make use of facilities in private hospitals without having the patient work for it.
• NHS Improvement Plan 2004 where patients have the right to choose from 4 different healthcare providers and NHS would pay for the treatment.
• Every patient has access to their own personal healthspace on the Internet where they can see their own care records.
• NHS Direct-a service to provide medical care over the phone to patients with minor illnesses so that they can save a visit to the doctor.

Impact of Providing Quality Service.

• Changes were aimed to deliver quality service by putting the needs of the patients as top priority.
• This would also not strain the resources of the NHS.

Visit the NHS websites

1.) Official Homepage: http://www.nhs.uk/

2.) NHS Direct http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/

Chapter 3: Healthcare Services in Singapore (1960-1980)

Aims of the government during the 1960s (Providing basic health care)

Measures taken to achieve Aims.

• Built more health facilities such as hospitals, clinics and outpatient dispensaries.
• Introduced Island-Wide inoculation/immunisation programme against diseases such as tuberculosis and smallpox.
• School/Health Service- Medical Officers and nurses were routinely sent to schools to examine pupils.
• Implemented measures to prevent infectious diseases such as malaria that were caused by littering and improper disposal of rubbish.
• Publicity posters to keep Singapore clean
• Organised campaigns such as"Keep Singapore Clean" Campaign.

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Aims of the government during the 1970s(Improving Health care Services)

Measures taken to achieve aims

• Emphasis on specialization of medical services. The economy had improved considerably and people were wealthier and better-educated, leading to greater demand for better quality medical services.
• Dispensaries replaced by polyclinics which provided better health care services.
• One stop Health centers which offered services such as outpatient medical care.maternal and child health care.
• Located in town centers of housing estates.
• Facilities in government hospitals were well-improved,better quality services introduced.

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Aims of the government during the 1980s (Taking Personal responsibility by staying healthy)

Measures taken to achieve aims

• SELF-RELIANCE
• Government could no longer offer to give generous health subsidies to the public.
• Avoid over-reliance of the public on state welfare.
• Singaporeans to pay part of their medical expenses and be responsoble for their own health.
• Basic health care and services were kept affordable by giving subsidies through medisave and Medishield.
• Medisave-Compulsory savings scheme to help Singaporeans pay for their family members' and their hospitalization fees,especially after retirement, derived from the worker's salary.
• Medishield-Voluntary scheme designed to help pay medical fees incurred by serious or prolonged illnesses such as cancer and kidney failure. An insurance scheme where members pay a small sum of money through their medisave.

Impact of measures (SELF RELIANCE) during the 1980s

• With medisave, the people share the costs of healthcare with the government.
• This lightens the government's burden in paying for health care services.
• This avoids a situation where people's initiative to work reduces.
• Healthcare becomes a shared responsibility.
• This the government need not depend on raising taxes to pay for healthcare costs.

MEDICAL CARE FOR LOWER INCOME GROUP

• Humanitarian concern for the welfare of people especially in the lower income group.
• Class "C" wards for the needy patients:Patients in these wards pay much less for the basic medical care and services.
• Medifund Scheme provides assistance to those who are too poor to even afford heavily subsidized charges at public hospitals and specialist outpatient clinics.
• Patients have to apply for help at the hospital where they seek treatment.

Impact of measures(MEDICAL CARE FOR LOWER INCOME GROUP)

• This ensures that no Singaporean is denied treatment despite belonging to lower income group.
• Although these schemes and subsidies are direct help from the government,they ensure that the lower income group takes responsibility for their health and not completely rely on the government for their healthcare costs-- as the lower income group still have to shoulder part of the responsibility to pay for healthcare costs.

RESTRUCTURING OF HOSPITALS

• Hospitals would have more freedom to reorganize to meet to the needs of Singaporeans.
• The government would be able to reduce the amount of subsidies to hospitals.

Impact of (RESTRUCTURING OF HOSPITALS)

• By restructuring hospitals, the government has been able to manage rising healthcare costs.

MEANS TESTING

• A way to check whether the patients are able to pay for healthcare.
• For example, it would take into consideration of the patient's background, gross income to decide how much subsidies the patient receives.
• However, it has not yet been implemented in hospitals yet.

Impact of MEANS TESTING

• Resources would be more fairly distributed.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

• Emphasis on health equation to stay fit- government provides
• Information to help people make informed choices on physical activities and diet.
• Screening programmes for early detection such as diabetes and heart diseases.

Impact of HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

• Made it easier for Singaporeans to maintain health lifestyle and equip them with adequate knowledge to take personal responsibility for their health.

WORKING WITH ORGANISATIONS

• Community also provides healthcare support services to meet the needs of the people.
• This is because it is impossible for the government to run all healthcare services.
• Voluntary welfare organizations and private organizations are given grants to run community hospitals,nursing home and day rehabilitation centers.
• Some of the organizations provide specific healthcare support services,For example. National Kidney Foundation (NKF) provides kidney dialysis.Singapore chung Hwa Medical institution provides Chinese traditional medicine. 

Impact of WORKING WITH ORGANISATIONS

• Made it easier for Singaporeans to maintain healthy lifestyle & equip them with adequate knowledge to take responsibility for their health.
• These healthcare services cater to the needs of specific groups of people such as the poor or those who with a particular illness.

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Websites to visit

Ministry of Health , Singapore http://www.moh.gov.sg

Reliability skill Worksheet 3

Study the sources carefully, and then answer the given question.

You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to those sources which you are told to use. In answering the questions you should use your knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources.

1a) Study Source E

Can we believe what source E says about the pro-baby incentive?
Explain your answer. [7]

Issue: Singapore's Population Policies
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Source A: Adapted from Singapore's Population Data by Age Group [1970-2000]


year 0-4 years
1970 235456
1980 185840
1990 223403
2000 213 278
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Source B: Adapted from an article in The Straits Times,2003
It is a long-term trend that as economics around the world improve, people have fewer children. Here, however, the economic downturn has worsened the situation. with more people delaying starting a family until times are better. Mr Chan Soo Sen, who heads a programme to promote marriage and families, commented that many couples delay because families are not a priority. Singaporeans admit that they are pragmatic people who calculate the value of everything,
i ncluding the costs involved in having children.
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Source C: An adapted comment by a female government servant, who is a mother of 2 boys, published in The New paper, 2004

The government should be more accepting when it comes to new mothers taking no-pay leave. I was passed over for promotion because I asled for 4 months no pay leave, after delivering my second child. It was disappointing and devastating to find out that my boss would not hold the position for me. I had worked extremely hard for it, and proven my ability throughout my years in service. I found out,that by taking no pay leave, promotions and pay increments are withheld. Why am I being penalized for wanting to be a good mother and wishing to spend time with my young children?
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Source D: A couple sharing their views on the procreation issue
"There is no urgency or moltivation for us." gymnasium owner, Mr Teong said. "Sometimes, pressure from our families and seeing friends who have become parents sometimes prompt us to think about starting a family, But these are fleeting thoughts. Seeing friends with their children reminds me that I'm getting on in years, but we are too busy with our careers and too comfortable with our lifestyle to make any changes," he added.

His wife highlighted the stressful education system here, and costs as further deterrents. They are both adamant that they don't want their lives to be dictated by anyone. They stress that they will start a family when they are ready.
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Source E: A local professional sharing her perspective on the pro-baby incentives introduced in 2004 and 2005
Couples not too certain about whether or not they want children, are being swayed, due to the government's attractive package to start a family. That being said though,they are quick to add that it's not all about the money. Dr Low Ee Ling, an academic, is concerned that she won't have enough time to spend with her child. What she likes about the package are the longer maternity leave and 5-day work week. She believes that it is important to bring up a child holistically,looking beyond the financial, to encompass spiritual and emotional support as well. The latter two, should be in fact the top priority for the child's well-being.

SS Notes Source based Compare and Contrast

Compare and Contrast

What it means: To compare and contrast means to look for similarities and differences between the two sources. In order to do this, you need to look for "matching" or common issue in both the sources.

How do we identify similarities and differences?

There are a few steps we need to follow when comparing and contrasting two or more things.

Steps to comparing and contrasting

What factors are important to the purpose of comparison?
Eg. Source type, Provenance, Content, tone, purpose of sources

For each factor, what are the similarities or differences?

Example?

Source type : Is it a text, picture, memoir, newspaper article, cartoon

Content: What is the source all about

Tone: (optimistic/ Pessimistic, Supportive/against, formal/informal,neutral/bias, offensive,defensive,sad/happy
Sensationalizing/downplaying

Purpose: IMPACT of source on the readers/audience
What conclusion can you draw that is significant to the purpose of comparison?

There are two main types of comparison questions

Question type 1
1.) Questions that requires you to point out either the similarities OR differences between the sources

Instruction words

• In what ways are they different/similar
• How do they differ?
• How are they similar?
• Contrast..........

Question type 2
2) Questions that require you to point out the similarities AND differences

• How different?
• How similar?
• Compare.......

Social Studies Practice Chapter 2 Sec 3 Textbook Governance

Have the ministerial pay hikes caused popular discontentment?

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Read this carefully. It may hep you answer some of the questions.

In April 2007, the Singapore government announced a salary revision for Ministers and civil servants in the government service. Since 1994, Ministers' and civil servants' salaries have been benchmarked against private sector earnings; they are set at two-thirds of the median pay of the top earners in the banking, law engineering and accountacy, as well as employees of multinational coporations and local manufactures. In this way, public sector salaries move up and down with the labour market. Ministers' wages were last raised in 2000, but were cut in 2001 and 2003 during the economic downturn, although the cuts have since been reversed.

Source A

A singaporean reporter's view of the ministerial pay hikes.

During the parlimentary debate on the pay hikes, some MPs pointed out to that: Just a month ago, the ministry overseeing the needs of the poor in Singapore has refused to heed some MPs' calls to incerase aid to Public Assistance recipients by "tens if dollars" more.

The latter are defined as those with no kin nor any means to support themselves due to age, illness or disability.

Source B 

Speech by Minister Teo Chee Hean, the head of the Civil Service

We know that financial rewards cannot and should not be the main moltivation of those in the government service. There are many intrinsic rewards that come from working in the public sector. However, that does not mean that we do not need to pay them market-competitive salaries. We don't want pay to be the reason for people joining u.But we alos don't want pay to be the reason for them not to join us, or to leave after joining us.

Competitve wages have helped us bring in and retain able men and women in government and in the Public Service in Singapore. This policy has served us well. We must maintain this competitive advantage - a clean, effective and efficent Public Service. We need a team of good people to develop the visiion , effective and efficent Public Service. We need a team of good people to devlop the vision, ideas and plans, as well as to see through the execution.

Source C 

A Political commentary by prominent writer Catherine Lim

Political leadership is less a salaried job and more a vocation, with all that this implies of selflessness and sacrifice on the part of the leaders, a trust, respect and regard on the part of the people. The ultimate reward for the leaders is a revered place in the nation's history, in the hearts and minds of future generations.

Nevertheless, no Singaporean with any practical sense of real world would want to see a minister denied a salary commensurate with his status and dignity, or living less well than any prosperous Singaporean. But no Singaporean would expect a minster to feel disgrunted if he is paid less than the top lawyer. If the disgruntlement actually causes him to leave his job, then he was not cut out for public office in the first place. Thus, to offer him a matching salary to enable him to stay would be to demean that office.

*Disgrunted : Deiscontented, unhappy or dissatisfied.

Source D 

Table published in the Wall Street Journal, July 2000

• Annual salaries of heads of government (US$)

1. Singapore Prime Minister - 1,100,000
   
2. Singapore Minister - 819,000
3. USA President - 200,000
4. USA Cabinet Secretary - 157,000
5. UK Prime Minister 171,000
6. UK Minister - 146,000
7. Australian Prime Minister - 137,000
8. Hong Kong Chief Executive - 417,000

Source E 

Speech by Low Thia Kiang, an oppostion Member of Parliament

We agree that civil servants should not be expected to make unreasonable financial sacrifices to be in the public sector. However, neither should they be seen being paid unreasonable wages for their contributions. Even in the private sector, no orgamisation can afford to keep paying increasingly high wages just to retain and attract top perforers since resources are inevitably limited. Moreover, in the case of public service, we need a different breed of people to come forward to serve; there is simply no point in offering high remuneration just to entice people to serve if what they are interested in is to make more and more money for himself and his family in pursuit of material interests in life.

How much they are paid is secondary. Pay them well, but don't let pay drive the search for leaders.

Questions

1a) Study Source A

Why do you think that the reporter expressed these views ? Explain your answer. [5]

1b) Study Sources B and C.

How similar are these two sources? Explain your answer. [7]

1c) Study Source D

How far does this source prove that the ministerial pay hikes are not justified? Explain you answer. [6]

1d) Study Source E

How far can you accept this source as evidence on the discontent with the ministerial pay hikes? Explain your answer. [7]

Structured Essay Notes How to approach the question

How to approach the topic:

Point : Divided Loyalties was one of the causes of the conflict

Description: In Northern Ireland, most protestants regarded themselves as British and wish to see the country as part of the United Kingdom.

Explanation: As a result of this Divided Loyalties, the protestants and catholics grew further apart and less tolerant of each other, resulting in hatred and conflict between the two groups.

Conclusion: Weighing the factors

Restate the 3 factors

Give the reason why it is The Most Important Factor : (MIF)
You need to consider : IMPACT(Short term/ Long term)

However statement:

State that the other two factors also play a part:

factor 2 + factpr 3 + MIF = Effect created

Social Studies STRUCTURE ESSAYS Explaining and Evaluation 2

Evaluating
(Structured-Essay Question)

Evaluation/Judgment Questions

Questions on evaluation will require to make a judgments and form your own opinions on an issue or a number of factors. This kind of question requires you to be balanced in your views (as far as possible) unless you need to work towards a particular conclusion, given your contextual knowledge.

Question types:

How successful................(analyze consequences)

Was....... still a great power after.....(analyze change and continuity)

How important...........?

"Countries maintain peaceful relations through diplomacy" Do you agree? Explain your answer.

When you are asked a question that requires some form of judgment based on the investigation of both sides of the issue, you will have to look for evidence that deal with both sides of the issue.

Some common errors

• Misreading Questions
• Inserting irrelevant points/factors
• lacking linkage between content and what the question demands
• Writing a summary of the factors
• Describing the factors but not evaluating them or explaining their significance

Social Studies STRUCTURE ESSAYS Explaining and Evaluation

Explaining
Structured Essay Question

Explanation Questions

These are questions that will usually ask you "Why" or to explain something.
These questions do not ask you to recall and describe your knowledge, or to ask you questions such as "What happened......"

In these questions, you will have to explain the given factor and make a connection with at least two other factors.

Identify the key words that guide you in how you should approach the question.

Question: Divided Loyalties was the most important factor in causing the conflict between the catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland.

The questions requires you to make some form of judgement based on the investigation or discussion of several factors. You will need to explain(not describe) the given factor in question and explain other factors that led to a particular outcome.

In your answer, send strong signals to the examiner that you are explaining the importance of the factors by using words such as because, thus, as a result, therefore

You will have to identify and explain other factors that contributed to the tensions between the catholics and the Protestants (2 Other factors)