Английский язык. Горохов В.М. - 17 стр.

for the benefits of children, apart from the provision of education. These include
allowances paid to parents in respect of each child, but subsidies for children's food
have now been restricted to families who need them.
        Every person who is working must make a single National Insurance
contribution every week. The amount to be paid each week is a little more for
employees than for people who are self-employed. In the case of employees, the
responsibility for making the payments belongs to the employer, who must deduct
part of each worker's wage or salary, and add large sums himself. The deficit is paid
for out of general taxation, along with the cost of the National Health Service. The
National retirement pension, or 'old age pension' as it is popularly called, may be
received by any man from the age of sixty-five (provided he has made his weekly
contributions to the fund) if he ceases to work, and by any woman from the age of
sixty. There are in addition non-state methods of providing for retirement pensions.
Some people have life insurance policies. Some contribute to their trade union
pension funds, and then receive pensions from them when they retire.
        People who become unemployed, or unable to work because of sickness,
receive payments from the National Insurance Fund at the same rate as retirement
pensioners. The amount of time for which a person is entitled to receive these
benefits (up to about twelve months) depends, to some extent, on contributions into
the insurance fund. Sickness benefit is paid for up to twenty-eight weeks.
        The system of payments to people on the basis of proved need has been
altered many times. It is operated through local offices of the Department of Social
Security, not by local government councils. The principle is that everyone should be
able to live at a minimum standard; these payments do not depend on insurance
contributions. People may get regular weekly payments, help with rent and various
extra payments too if they show that without such help their incomes would be below
a certain minimum. In very cold weather old people may get extra payments to cover
their extra costs for heating.
        A weekly allowance is paid in respect of every child, whatever the parents'
income may be. There are also special allowances for single parents, payable on
proof of need. But in 1987 and 1988 the general children's allowance was not
increased to keep up with inflation, so its real value declined. Several benefits for
children were ended long ago, such as free milk and orange juice. In the 1980s they
had to pay more for lunch at school, and for school buses, unless their parents had
very low incomes.

      Note.
      Welfare State - "государство всеобщего благосостояния" (с системой
социального обеспечения, бесплатным обучением и т.п.);
      to cease - прекращать;
      to be entitled to - иметь полномочия.

       Questions:
       1. What necessities of life does the state ensure?
       2. What is the first part of the welfare state?
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