The Wilmington morning star., 1947-07-23
CRADLE TO GRAVE
SECURITY READY
Everybody, Rich Or Poor,
To Be Covered By
Broad Plan
BY HAROLD GUARD
United Press Staff Correspondent


lister is expected to make state
ment in parliament soon fixing
the appointed cay" when Brit
aims social security plan will g
into effect.
The plan as envisaged by its
authors in the Labor government
will safeguard the welfare 0.
everybody in the nation.
Labor government quarters be
1eve July l, 1945, will be the his
toric date from which everybody
i'll the British Isles rich ano
poor, employers and employed
old and young, men, women ane
children, self-employed people
ard those who 20 no work at al
will be provided tor in sickness
ald in health, il work or unem
r;oyment, in youth or old age ane
II death.
(Social security in the Uniteo
States is on less complete scale
At present, it provides old-age IN
surance, paid federally,- and un
employment compensation, han
died through the states. There al
so are varying state aid plans fol
the needy aged, the blind, ano
dependent children. But not al
persons are covered. Presiden
Truman has recommended more
extended coverage as well as {
compulsory national health insur
aAce program. Bills to carry ou
nls recommendations are pending
in Congress, but there is little
chance of action this year. Othel
ILLS. including some embodying ;
cradleto- the-grave social selurity
program, have been introduced
But they have never passed the
bearing stage).
Britain's national insurance &C
and national health act, the mair
legislation implementing the plan
already have become law. They
provide for sickness, unemploy
ment, maternity ard death bene
fits besides free hospital, medical
dental, health ceilters and othel
services.
Final Act To Come
The industrial injuries act. un
Ger which Workmer's compensa
ton becomes national insurance
responsibility instead Of an en-
ployer's, also has been passed.
The final part of the plan-the
national assistance bill, which viii
supplant the poor law-will be in
troduced and passed in Parlia
ment before the erd of this year
In working out the plan, the
government divided the popula
ton into six classes which are,
according to the authors, mot II
accordance to earnings but ac-
cording to the population differ
ent ways of life end their require
ments."
The groups, which differ in re.
spect of the benefits they need
and the contributions they can
pay to receive them, are: Cd En-
ployes: (2) others earning money:
90 housewives; ~ other persons
of working age rot earning mon
ey; 90 children; 60 persons
above working age who have re.
tired. :.
No Exceptions
There will be no exceptions
CT "exemptions.' The scheme will
be compulsory FOR every person
above school-leaving age of 16
years in the British Isles. Once
insured, person will remain in
sured till the end of his days.
Financed by contributions from
Insured persons, employers and
the state, the scheme is based On
the assumption that there will be
a constant average of 1-2 per
cent Of the population unemploy.
ed and constantly drawing on the
unemployment insurance fund.
Contributions have been assess
ed according to the various group.
lngs. They will be on sliding
scale from a minimum of Is I'd
per week in the case of a girl
under 18 years o. age 10 a maxi
mum of IS I'd per week for a
self-employed person. "a shilling
is worth about 20 cents.)
The Duke Of Westminster will
become eligible for Government
Social Security grant Just as
much as the lowliest laborer in
the land.
Nature of Benefits
In the case of insured employees
the total contributions, including
employees, employers and state
payments will total los Sd pei
week.
Benefits will range from pre-
natal and maternity benefits O.
36s per week to retiring pensions
OF 26s per week for everybody a
the age of 65 for men and 60 fol
women.
Sickness benefits will similarly
apply from the highest to the low
est IN the land. They will be re
strlcted to 312 days continuous
sickness for the first three year
efter which they will be paid in
definitely for as long as incapac
ity lasts.
Unemployment benefits will b,
paid for 1870 days continuous un
employment and separate period
OF unemployment occurring within
13 weeks period will be regarded