A Chronology of State Medicine, Public Health, Welfare and Related ...

1970
1970 Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) established by a merger of the
General Register Office and the Government Social Survey Department. See 1996.
Local Authority Social Services Act (c.42) created the administrative framework for
implementing most of the recommendations of the Seebohm Committee (1968); led to the
setting up of social services departments within local authorities by bringing together staff
from the childrens, welfare and health departments in 1971.
Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act (c.44) extended the powers and duties of
local authorities to help disabled people; required authorities to know the number of persons
in their area needing help; to ensure that available services were well publicised; empowered
authorities to provide help with activities of daily living, leisure activities, holidays,
travelling, telephones and house adaptations; required new buildings and public toilets to be
accessible to disabled people but only "in so far as it is in the circumstances both practicable
and reasonable"; made it mandatory for certain committees to have one or more disabled
people as members; required younger chronically disabled patients to be cared for separately
from the care of elderly disabled people; introduced special badges for motor vehicles driven
or used by disabled people; and made provisions for special educational facilities. See 1972
and 1981.
National Insurance (Old Persons' and Widows' Pensions and Attendance Allowance)
Act (c.51) extended the eligibility for widows' pensions; introduced non-contributary
pensions, as of right, to all people aged 80 years or more; and an "Attendance Allowance" for
a disabled person needing frequent or continuous attention as determined by an Attendance
Allowance Board. Payments started in 1971. See 1971.
Family Income Supplements Act (c.55) provided for a new benefit, administered by the
Supplementary Benefits Commission, for families with small incomes. Such families were
exempted from health service charges and the children were eligible for free school meals.
See 1975.
Education (Handicapped Children) Act (c.52) discontinued the classification of
handicapped children for educational purposes and transferred the education of handicapped
children who were previously the responsibility of the health departments to the education
departments. See 1978.
Equal Pay Act (c.41) disallowed discrimination between men and women in terms and
conditions of pay; and obliged firms to pay men and women who are doing the same job the
same wage by the end of 1975.
Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Act (c.45) established that a wife's work, as
either a housewife or wage earner, should be considered as an equal contribution towards the
creation of the family home. See 1973.
Radiological Protection Act (c.46) set up the National Radiological Protection Board
which became responsible for all radiation protection functions. See 1976.
The Standing Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution appointed to "advise on
matters, both national and international, concerning the pollution of the environment; on the
adequacy of research in this field; and of future possibilities of danger to the environment".
See 1974.
"The Protection of the Environment. The Fight against Pollution", a White Paper,
Cmnd. 4373, published. See 1974.
The Twelfth Report of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration,
Cmnd. 4352, published. Later the members of the Board resigned after the Government had
indicated that it would not accept its proposals. See 1971.