Social policy is the way in which the government go about tackling issues which are social in nature or as Walsh (2000) states “[...] the plans, strategies and approaches that governments adopt when deciding what to do about issues and problems that affect social welfare”.

In 1942 William Beveridge published a report recommending that the government should find ways of fighting the five “Giant Evils” of “Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor and Idleness” as a way of rebuilding Britain after World War Two. To defeat these giants Beveridge proposed setting up a welfare state; which was to include social security, a national health service, free education, council housing and full employment. This report was entitled “Social Insurance and Allied Services” and ensured that in 1944 the welfare state began to take shape. In order to fight the “Five Giants” and ensure social reform, the following are some of the legislative acts which were fabricated:

1946 - National Insurance Act, an extension of the 1911 Liberal Act (Want)
1946 - Industrial Injuries Act (Want)
1948 - National Assistance Act (Want)
1946 - National Health Service Act (Disease)
1944 - Education Act (Ignorance)
1946 - New Towns Act (Squalor)