Department of Health and Social Security
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(June 2009) |
| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1968 |
| Preceding agencies |
|
| Dissolved | 1988 |
| Superseding agencies | |
| Jurisdiction | United Kingdom |
| Headquarters | London |
TheDepartment of Health and Social Security(commonly known as theDHSS) was aministryof theBritish governmentin existence for twenty years from 1968 until 1988, and was headed by theSecretary of State for Health and Social Services.
History
[edit]Until 1968 the social security responsibilities had been split between theMinistry of Pensions and National Insurance,and the health responsibilities by theMinistry of Health.
In 1988 the department was split again into a separateDepartment of Healthand theDepartment of Social Security.
In 2001 theDepartment for Work and Pensionswas formed from the Department of Social Security, absorbing the employment functions which had previously been the responsibility of theDepartment for Education and Employmentsince the dissolution of theDepartment of Employmentin 1995.
Ministers
[edit]Impact
[edit]Even two and a half decades after its abolition, the initials "DHSS" continue to be used by the general public to describe theDepartment for Work and Pensionsor some of the benefits it provides (such asIncome Support).
References in popular culture
[edit]- Half Man Half Biscuitthe notable cynico-rock group from The Wirral, UK, named their first album "Back in the DHSS"as a pun on the earlier single bythe Beatles( "Back in the USSR") and a nod to the growing unemployment under the Thatcher administration of the 1980s.
- UB40(areggaegroup fromBirmingham,whose first album was released in 1980[1]) was named after the form issued by the DHSS to those claiming unemployment benefit, the full name of which was Unemployment Benefit form 40.[2]
- British groupWham!mention the "DHSS" in their song "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)".[3]
- Punk poetAttila the Stockbroker's poem "Russians in the DHSS" satirized the Cold War threat of the Soviet Union in Thatcher-era Britain.
- InThe Young Onesepisode "Bomb"Rick attempts to write a threatening telegram to theBritish Governmentthrough a DHSS office which he mistakes for the post office.
- InYes Ministerit is mentioned by one of the characters, when sitting in a round-table meeting in relation to equal opportunities for women. |https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x_KRk4q3Y44|
References
[edit]- ^"Biography".UB40 official website.United Kingdom: Box UK. Archived fromthe originalon 15 June 2009.Retrieved2 June2009.
UB40's first album was released in September 1980.
- ^"Ub40 Biography".BiggestStars.com. Archived fromthe originalon 4 December 2008.Retrieved2 June2009.
The name "UB40" was selected in reference to a paper form issued by the UK government's Department of Health and Social Security at the time of the band's formation for claiming unemployment benefit. The designation UB40 stood for Unemployment Benefit, Form 40.
- ^"Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)".Archivedfrom the original on 12 December 2021.Retrieved19 August2018– via YouTube.
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