ABSTRACT
A network of services grew up, in the fields of social security, health, welfare, education and housing, which went far to provide against the most serious cases of need and inequality. As a result, the social services as they existed in the 1930s, in spite of their remarkable growth since 1900, were still subject to strong criticism for their inadequacies. In addition, the banking and insurance industries were allowed to run separate schemes, giving the same rates of benefit for much lower contributions, paid entirely by the employers; they could afford to do this because of their low unemployment liability. The scheme provided benefits at rates higher than those under National Health Insurance and included dependants' allowances for a period of up to six months. In 1931 financial liability for the long-term unemployed had to be taken over by the Exchequer and payments to those who had exhausted benefit rights became subject to means tests.
