a national health service, national insurance, assistance and family allowances. He also stressed the importance of full employment. Although not entirely as Beveridge wished, a newly elected Labour government, adopted measures that formed the basis of the British Welfare State. These measures that were introduced included a comprehensive social insurance policy that covered unemployment, sickness, maternity, and widows' benefits. Pensions, children's and guardian's allowances were also available. A free national health service, training and industrial injuries schemes were set up. Full employment became government policy. Together these developments created the welfare state, a system of social security guaranteeing a minimum level of health and social services. Ideally the welfare state aimed to relive poverty, reduce inequality and achieve greater social integration. In many respects this has had a great influence on peoples' lives, people are living longer, are healthier and standards of living have improved. The welfare state has failed to give full employment or eradicate poverty.
             Poverty is still in existence today in Britain and is a financial drain on the Welfare state. Poverty has changed over the years with a shift from mostly absolute poverty to relative poverty. The early 1900's saw many people living without proper shelter unable to feed or clothe themselves this is absolute poverty. The introduction of the welfare state has helped to reduce absolute poverty in so much as today it is limited to homeless people. Relative poverty is very high in today's' society. Relative poverty is about social exclusion and not having the things that the nation as a whole deems necessary. An example would be not having a television or not being able to go out and socialise. The main reasons for poverty today are vast but include low paid jobs, high unemployment, poor benefits for disabl...