What does the perfect system of "from cradle to grave" in Britain mean?

The perfect system of "protection from cradle to grave" mentioned by the British refers to a perfect social welfare system.

General situation of social welfare system

The social welfare system in Britain has a long history and a wide range of connotations, which has not only played a positive role in promoting the development of British society, but also had a negative impact. 10 Over the years, the British government has gradually realized the disadvantages of the welfare system and taken measures to reform it, aiming at turning negative into positive, promoting British economic development and helping to reverse the decline of Britain's international status. ?

Britain established a "welfare state" in 1945. Since then, the social welfare system has been constantly adjusted and revised, reaching a considerable scale and level, mainly in five aspects: national insurance, national medical care, personal social welfare, housing and education. The details are as follows:

(1) universal insurance?

The National Insurance Law stipulates a comprehensive social insurance system consisting of various allowances and subsidies. Allowances and subsidies are divided into two categories: payment-based and non-payment-based subsidies. The condition for receiving payment-based subsidies is that the recipient pays the insurance premium weekly and must pay it within a certain period of time. Part of the subsidies belong to this category. Non-contributory allowances are paid according to special needs. ? National insurance premiums are divided into four categories, namely, employers and employees pay separately, small businessmen pay, those who have income but are not employed pay, and those who are independent pay. At present, there are about 40 kinds of subsidies, which are mainly divided into: mother and baby (maternity allowance, maternity allowance, children's allowance, special children's allowance, children's guardianship allowance), widow (widow's allowance, widow's allowance, widow's pension), sick and disabled (sickness allowance, disability pension, nursing and disability allowance), unemployment and retirement (pension, pension, old-age allowance). ?

(2) National health care?

The national health care law stipulates that all British people can enjoy free medical care except dental surgery, eye examination and glasses; Patients only pay prescription fees, except for lying-in women, lactating women, children, retirees, patients caused by medical accidents, recipients of war or business disability allowance and low-income families. ?

The Ministry of Health is responsible for the implementation of the National Health Law. There are more than 100 regional health management institutions and committees in China, which are responsible for managing the specific implementation of national health care. Each district has a general hospital, as well as general hospitals, clinics, health centers and various specialized hospitals. ?

The national health care system stipulates that doctors and nurses in various disciplines provide treatment for the elderly, the disabled and the mentally ill, and provide auxiliary medical means and heating equipment free of charge. The services of the system also include supervision and management of schools, family and environmental sanitation, food and drug safety, epidemic prevention, drug rehabilitation, abortion and training of medical personnel. 88% of the total cost of national health care is paid by government taxes, and the rest is paid by national insurance premiums, prescription fees and other expenses. ?

(3) Personal social welfare?

Including various welfare facilities and services provided by relevant government departments and social volunteer organizations for residents with special difficulties, such as providing housing and services suitable for their lives and activities for residents who have lost their ability to work and work; Family therapy for mental patients and dealing with corresponding social problems; The authorities provide convenience and support for the construction of children's facilities, and the state takes care of/kloc-children under the age of 0/7 who have no one to raise or monitor them; Government departments and social volunteer organizations provide life and entertainment services for the elderly and needy families. ?

(4) housing?

For low-income families, the government grants housing subsidies; For low-income families who buy houses for the first time, the government gives extra allowances and other preferential conditions. In addition, the government attaches importance to providing special housing for the elderly and patients, making it convenient and safe. ?

Housing owned by local authorities gives priority to tenants with poor living conditions. In order to prevent private housing lessors from demanding high rents from tenants, the government has formulated restrictive measures, mainly including controlling rents, adjusting rents and determining fixed rents by special courts in charge of rent affairs. ?

In addition to personal income or savings, residents can also buy or build houses through loans from mutual aid associations, insurance companies, local authorities and banks. Mortgage loans issued by building societies account for the largest proportion. The association itself does not build houses, but issues loans with the houses purchased by borrowers as collateral. The loan term is generally 20-25 years (it can be extended to 30-35 years under special circumstances), and the lender pays the principal and interest on a monthly basis. ?

(5) education?

Most students (primary education and secondary education) receive free education from government education funds. Free students are not only free of tuition, but also free of books and other learning tools. The education authorities provide free milk to students in special schools such as deaf-mute and mentally retarded children and students under the age of 7 in other public schools, each with 1/3 pints per day (equivalent to 0. 19 liters in British system). For health reasons, milk can be provided free of charge until the age of 65,438+065,438+0. Public schools generally have canteens, and some schools also provide transportation. In higher education, 90% of college students can get government subsidies.

Second, the advantages and disadvantages of the social welfare system?

The British welfare system has played a positive role in promoting the development of British society, but it has also brought many negative effects.

(a) positive role?

1. helps to stabilize social order.

It has promoted the general improvement of social material and cultural level.

(2) Negative effects?

Huge social welfare expenditure has increasingly become a heavy financial burden for the government.

The social welfare system has brought thorny social problems.

13. The welfare issue has become one of the focuses of political party struggle in Britain.

In addition, with the development of economic globalization, the welfare system has increasingly become the shackles of the integration of the welfare state economy into the world economic system. Britain's economic growth is slow, and the gap with the United States and Japan is widening. How to improve the speed of economic development and enhance the competitiveness in the international market has become an urgent problem to be solved, and social welfare expenditure, which accounts for a considerable proportion of GDP every year, has undoubtedly become the entrance to solve the problem.