Housing to 1972
Prior to World War II, legislation provided state assistance for constructing houses for urban workers, employees, and cottages for rural agricultural workers. Around 4,000 houses were built by local authorities, 33,000 by private builders with state aid, and 3,700 laborers’ cottages. Approximately 10,000 houses were constructed without state assistance.
At the end of World War II, the planning advisory board recommended that 100,000 new houses were urgently needed, and a comprehensive program would require 200,000 houses.
The Housing (NI) Act of 1944 granted lump sum subsidies to local authorities building houses. The Ministry of Health and Local Government was established in 1944. The state contributed for 40 years to each new local authority house, while local authorities contributed sums from the rates over the same period. This period was extended to 60 years in 1946.
The Northern Ireland Housing Trust, established in 1945 as a public authority, had the power to build houses in Northern Ireland. It supplemented local authorities with the same level of subsidy fully funded by the government. In some cases, the trust acted as an agent for the local authority. Postwar, there was a new emphasis on public housing.
Northern Ireland was the only part of the United Kingdom to offer subsidies for private buildings. The Housing No. 2 Northern Ireland Act of 1946 provided subsidies for privately built houses. Additional provisions were made for farmers and employees in the housing on farms (NI Act) in 1948 and 1950.
By 1970, a total of 175,000 houses had been built post-war: 66,000 by local authorities, 42,000 by the housing trust, and 4,000 by other agencies. 55,000 were built by private enterprise with subsidies and 7,300 by private enterprise without subsidies.
The Housing Miscellaneous Provisions and Rent Restriction Law Amendment Act of 1956 addressed slum clearance and redevelopment. Housing authorities were required to submit proposals to the Ministry of Health and Local Government within two years for dealing with unfit houses. The act provided 50 percent grants to local authorities for redevelopment spending.
A 75 percent grant was given for land purchase for use as open space. Local authorities were empowered to provide grants for house conversion and improvement.
The Housing Act (NI) of 1961 provided payments to relieve hardship caused by slum clearance.
In the late 1960s, inadequate housing provision and unfair housing location by local authorities were significant causes of civil rights protests. A reform program in November 1968 committed to housing allocation based on primary criteria.
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive was formed in 1970 with an advisory housing council composed of three members nominated by the council and six and the chairman nominated by the Minister for Development. It facilitated the transfer of housing between local authorities, initially acting as agents.
Regarding the health and poor law systems in all Ireland as of 1921, the Ministry of Health and Local Government was established in 1944. Before that, several large hospitals were built during the war years. Some poor unions and infirmaries became district hospitals. By the beginning of World War II, there were 12 district hospitals, 6 county infirmaries, 12 union infirmaries, and several voluntary hospitals.
The National Health Insurance Act, NI, introduced free GP treatment for insured persons.
Statutory health committees were established in each county and county borough, assuming the duties of urban and district councils in 1946. They took over functions related to health matters, and county welfare committees were also set up.
The Public Health Tuberculosis Act, NI, 1946, established the Northern Ireland Tuberculosis Authority to tackle the tuberculosis problem. The Health Services Act (NI) of 1948 introduced free and comprehensive medical treatment similar to that provided under the NH system.
The Tuberculosis Authority, consisting of members nominated by councils and the minister, took over tuberculosis treatment functions from counties. Within a decade, it had reduced the tuberculosis death rate by 85 percent.
The Hospitals Authority was established in 1948. In 1958, the Tuberculosis Authority was merged with the Hospitals Authority. Members of the authority were appointed by the Minister for Health and Local Government. It worked in conjunction with the General Health Services Board. The department aimed to promote and coordinate various services. The authority members, subject to consultation, were appointed by the ministry. Under the Health Services Amendment Act of 1967, the authority became an agent of the Minister of Health and Social Services. The General Health Service Board retained direct responsibility for providing medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and ophthalmic services, functioning as a single Northern Ireland authority.
The Hospitals Authority assumed various functions, including ambulance services, administration, management of hospitals, provision of mental health services, institutional care, and community care.
The Health Services Act, NI, of 1948 transferred existing mental hospitals to the Hospitals Authority.
The Mental Health Act, NI, 1948, provided the first comprehensive legislation related to ascertaining care, supervision, training, and occupation of individuals requiring special care.
The Mental Health Act, NI, 1961, aligned the treatment of psychiatric illness more closely with physical illness.