This public opinion survey shows the public welcomed Beveridge's proposals, but many people did not believe the government would put them into action. Clearly, much criticism of the old-age pension scheme was envisaged. In order to get the scheme accepted by the Treasury, it had been necessary to reduce costs and limit payments to pensioners to below subsistence level.
Catalogue reference: PREM 4/89/2, pp. 601 and 604 (c.1942-3)

By kind permission of the Gallup Organisation