Social Services

• Social Security
• Health
• Mental Hospitals
• Education
• Labour
• Broadcasting
• National Provident

The Social Security Department, which came into operation in 1939, supersedes the Pensions Department. What is called the 'social security scheme' includes both allowances for old age, invalidity, etc., and (ultimately) free medical services. On the medical side, the scheme is administered by the Health Department. General hospitals are a national service controlled by local hospital boards over which the Health Department has certain powers of control. It is perhaps unlikely that local control over hospitals will long survive the introduction of free medical services. Education is a nominally localised service; local education boards in theory administer primary, intermediate, and technical schools and employ teachers. Actually, control of education is highly centralised. Broadcasting was until 1936 administered by a board responsible to Parliament; it is now under ministerial control.