Critically discuss the view that 'Universal Welfare provision can only ever be wasteful and lead to welfare dependency'. Give examples to illustrate your points.

Key Concepts in Social Policy SXP1004 Critically discuss the view that 'Universal Welfare provision can only ever be wasteful and lead to welfare dependency'. Give examples to illustrate your points. For this assignment, in the hope of covering the above statement the writer will discuss what the word welfare means and how we came about in the 1940's to implement a modern welfare system. Also, the writer will look how the effects of the thatcher …

…looks like it's going to be the case with the New Labour government, as they have already started introducing measures such as Family Tax Credit which is means tested. The future of a Universal Welfare system looks like being in the balance, and a move towards a Selectivity system seems on the way, but whichever way it goes the government need to ensure that the vulnerable do not suffer - Children, elderly and the disabled.