1832 - A Royal Commission is set up to investigate the 'Poor Law' under which poor relief is provided by parishes.

1834 - The Poor Law Amendment Act is passed and strict rules on poor relief are published.

Parishes are forced to form unions and build workhouses which offer a lower standard of living than anything available outside, so that people do all they can to avoid poverty.

1901 - Seebohm Rowntree publishes a poverty report in which he distinguishes between primary poverty, caused by low-pay and secondary poverty where earnings are sufficient but spending is wasteful.

He criticises the current system and calls for action to fight the problems of unemployment, old-age and ill-health.

1908 - Influenced strongly by Rowntree's findings, the Chancellor passes The Old Age Pensions Act to provide a pension of five shillings a week for people over 70 years-old with incomes of less than �31 - 10s a year.

1909 - The Royal Commission on the Poor Laws finds an overwhelming need to change both law and public attitudes to poverty.

1911 - The National Insurance Act is passed which gives the first contributory system of insurance against illness and unemployment, paid for by state contributions, employers and employees.

1920 - The Unemployed Insurance Act is passed which extends the scope of the 1911 act to include more than 12 million workers.

1925 - Neville Chamberlain continues with the insurance theme with a Widows, Orphans and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act.

1926 - A Royal Commission on National Health Insurance finds the present system inadequate and speaks of a need to move away from an insurance system to a service supported by public funds.

1930 - The Poor Law Act reasserts the liability of relations of the poor to maintain them, grants 'outdoor' relief and restricts admission to workhouses.

1934 - Following a Royal Commission, the Unemployment Act tightens up the insurance scheme. The Unemployment Assistance Board is set up, eligibility for relief is widened but family means testing continues.

1935 - National Health Insurance Act consolidates the law for insurance contributions and benefits.

1940 - The Minister of Health announces the intention to provide a full regional hospital service financed by grants from local authorities alongside payments by patients either directly or through contributory schemes.

1942 -Sir William Beveridge publishes his"Social Insurance and Allied Services" report with state welfare proposals.

1944 - A National Health Service white paper proposes changes to hospital administration and general practice and a free service with costs met through the Social Insurance scheme and a mixture of central and local public money.