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Page last updated at 12:50 GMT, Monday, 25 July 2005 13:50 UK
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Viewpoints: The welfare state

To mark 60 years of the 1945 welfare settlement, the BBC News website invited an array of politicians and social and business experts to debate the future of the welfare state.

Here are their views.

"The welfare state of the 21st century will be... an enabler - a ladder out of poverty"
David Blunkett, Work and Pensions Secretary

"Extending choice will inevitably be vital for the future development of the welfare state"
Sir Malcolm Rifkind, shadow work and pensions secretary

"To accept its help and support means submitting to intrusive means-tests..."
David Laws, Lib Dem work and pensions spokesman
"Lasting change is often secured when the ship is steered in a new direction, not abandoned..."
Nick Pearce, director, Institute for Public Policy Research

"A growing minority of claimants have an attitude of take, take, take rather than give, give, give"
Frank Field, former welfare reform minister

"The way forward for education and health is to get the state out of the provision of these services"
Ruth Lea, director, Centre for Policy Studies


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Focus on poverty in the UK after 60 years of the welfare state

Children in rags Hard times
The century long battle to measure Britain's underclass

WELFARE STATE: THEN AND NOW
The 1945 'welfare state election'
Sixty years on: A hospital's story
In graphics: Timeline
Quiz: The welfare state

LIFE ON THE BREADLINE
First-time buyers at poverty risk
Young will be poorer than parents
Voices from the poverty frontline
UK poverty explained

A MODEL WELFARE STATE?
Britain's road to the welfare state
Is UK still a model for others?

MEETING THE POVERTY CHALLENGE
What would Attlee do?
Blunkett on welfare
Rifkind on expanding choice

HAVE YOUR SAY
Should benefits be simplified?



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