theme 4 - the changing quality of life 4A changing living standards

Boom 1918-1920

• DLG promised a ‘land fit for heroes to live in’

• Firms recalibrated for peacetime production

• Prices continued to rise and govt did little to regulate production

• Demobbed soldiers returned to work

By the end of 1920 there were — unemployed, — of them exservicemen

1 million, 1/3rd

Unemployment never fell slow 1 million in the 30’s but this was regional:

New industries were emerging and unemployment wasn’t so sever in some areas

In 1932 approx —% of those engaged in electrical appliance manufacture were unemployed compèred with —% involved in shipbuilding

12%, 70%

The decline of ‘heavy industries’ had a huge impact on living standards in areas they were concentrated

Heavy industries: ship building, production of coal, iron, cotton

Disparity between the poorest and wealthiest parts of the country widened in the 20’s and 30’s

In 1932 london and the3 South East had 11% unemployment compared to 40% in wales

A survey in 1933 concluded that: (hunger)

Unemployment benefits were insufficient to provide a minimum diet recommended by the ministry of health

WC Mothers didnt eat so their husband and children could, no meat and veg in rural areas

Some areas saw living standards rise during the depression

After 1933 ‘light industries’ such as production of household appliances fre in the Southeast and these areas experienced a consumer boom

Household appliances filled the homes of MC families throughout 1930’s

Washing machines, electric cookers, vacuum cleaners

In 1930 there were 200,000 ——— sales a year rose to 400,00 — years later

Vacuum cleaner, 8

Beginning of teenage culture

Spending money on clothes, records and enjoying themselves dancing and on day trips

Fresh fruits were imported from abroad

Some believed fresh fruit was harmful to children and most fruit came in tins

Prices for basic food stuffs fell

Tea, milk, sugar, vegetables

It is estimated that in 1920’s Britain there were ——— fish and chip shops with fish at less than — and chips at — it was affordable

20,000, 2p, 1p

Of the 1.1 million council houses built in the interwar period —% were on new estates

90%

In 1914 —% of the population owned their own home, by 1938 —%

10%, 32%

Decent new homes could be bought from £—- in london and outside a small bungalow cost £—-

£450 £250

The Ministry of Food

Created 1940, involving 50k administrators meant that nearly all foodstuffs were allocated by ration cards

The National Loaf

Introduced in response to a lack of white flour - a grey-looking bread, 1/7 consumers preferred it

Health improved during WW2

Food was supplemented with vitamins and minerals by the ministry of food

The level of infant mortality fell - might account for post war baby boom

A weekly ration

• 4 once’s of margarine and bacon

• 1 egg

• 2 ounces of butter and tea

• 1 ounce of cheese

• 8 ounces of sugar

Crèches were set up

To allow women munition workers freedom to work - first in November 1941 and within 6 months there were 667 crèches

Mass bombing during the war4 resulted in the deaths of —— people and the destruction of —— homes

40,000, 2 million

‘The most hated measure ever to have been presented to the people of this country.’

Bread rationing 1946-1948 - Labour govt

What was rationed until 1949

Clothing, wood - furniture was designed to use as little wood as possible ‘utility furniture’

Labour had to continue rationing as Britain was bankrupted by the war:

• 55% of British food was imported but Britain didn’t have the foreign currency reserves to pay

• The USA ended Britain’s war-time financial lifeline in 1945 - the Lend-Lease Agreement

Rearmament

Defence spending was 23% of GDP in 1950

A planned economy

Labour govt believed would raise living standards - 1950 manifesto accepted shortages of food and essential items as an inevitability

Labour electoral defeat 1951

Partly attributable to the failure of govt to ensure food and energy distribution (winter 1946-47)

Prefabricated housing

The Excalibur Estate built between 1945&1946 - product of the 1944 Housing and Temporary Accommodation Act

Prefabricated homes were small two bed bungalows designed to last max 10 years - wooden walls and flat roofs

Persistent damp and cold but owners were satisfied

Blocks of flats

Solution to loss of WC houses in inner cities - 1951 Lawn Flats built in Harlow, Essex - ‘point’ blocks, all flats were accessible from a central landing and elevator

New Towns Act 1946 (labour)

Created 14 hew towns across Britain - designed to relieve the overcrowded WC districts in cities. Stevenage, Telford, Cumbernauld - designed with modern architecture and town planning. Considerable improvement in living conditions

First time many WC people had lived in suburban estates

‘Affluent Society’

A period when more people achieved living standards their fore-bearers could not have imagined as spending power rose

Rapid growth in living standards 1951-79

• global economic boom

• Britains welfare state

• Relatively low energy prices - until 1970’s

• Commitment to full employment

• Strong TU’s - able to negotiate higher wages

• Increasing availability of consumer credit

• Rise in average wages since 1945

1957 Macmillan quote:

‘Most of our people have never had it so good’

Reflected the fact that a decade earlier their were food shortages

Britains mixed economy successfully provided doe most of the populations material needs ensuring long term improvement BUT:

There were exceptions to this picture or overall growth and problems still remained in some areas of society

In 1957 Britain spent over £—-on consumer goods, rising to £—-by 1960

£1billion, £1.5billion

Wages in 1959 on average twice what they were in —

1950

In 1955 only 175 of homes had a washing machine. 11 years later this rose to —%

60%

Relaxation of rules around consumer credit in 1954

Allowed WC families to but consumer goods. Borrowing in order to afford luxuries increased in 1955 0 demand for TVs rose 10% - delays of 3 months as new stock was ordered

Milton Keynes

New town - final series of new towns created in 1967 - increase in affluence allowed families to move from inner cities

Prices remained stable and real wages rose by —% between 1955 & 1969

130%

Admass

Term invented by J.B Preistley to describe the new society of mass consumption and advertising

In 1966 the housing charity Shelter was founded

In order to help the 12k nationwide that were homeless and the tens of thousands in temporary accommodation

In 1967 —million people lived bellow the poverty line - often in cold, damp dirty homes

7.5

In 1963 Manchester still had —— slum houses without running water, heating, or inside toilets. Overcrowded

80,000

The elderly were most vulnerable in run down neighbourhoods

In 1965 1.5million elderly people lived alone, on small pensions. Quality of life was poor due to dirty, insanitary living conditions, poor diet and loneliness

Flaws with system built high-rise flats (streets in the sky)

Cold and damp

Ronan Point flats explosion 1968

Killed 3 people. Brought the scandal to national attention. Investigators found that builders had used old newspapers instead of concrete in certain parts of the building