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This volume is a broad-ranging survey of the development of social policy, from the end of the World War II up to the present day. The notion of the "Welfare State" is often invoked as a powerful, political and social ideal. In this book, Howard Glennerster explores the myths and counter-myths that have shaped poular conceptions of social policy, and that continue to dominate current debates. Setting the emergence of the "classic welfare state" in its historical context, the book explores the distinct characteristics of the 1940s as a period of remarkable social change and reception to innovation. It examines the precise role of Sir William Beveridge, traditionally seen as the founding father of the welfare system, and assesses, too, the contribution of other players, such as Aneurin Bevan, in developing the British forms of welfare provision. The book provides an assessment of the various aspects of the welfare system through the post-war decades - including education, health, social security and housing - linking the service-by-service stories to the wider political agenda of the times. Throughout, the book shows that social policy could not be tackled within a vacuum: welfare provision was expensive and sensitive, and the various legislative measures can only be understood through an awareness of the underlying political and economic concerns of ministers. Howard Glennerster is the author of "Paying for Welfare: The 1990s, and co-author (with M. Matsaginis and P. Owens) of "Implementing Fundholding" and (with N. Korman) "Planning for Priority Groups".