Britain 1850s - 1970

1. Britain 1850s - 1970 The Liberal Reforms

2. 1906 Workmen’s Compensation Act 1908 – Children’s charter 1909 Coal Mines Act 1909 Trade’s Boards Act 1909 Labour exchanges 1911 Shop Act 1911 National Insurance Act 1911 National Health Insurance Act

4. Children • 1906 – local education authorities were allowed to provide free school meals. This was made compulsory in 1914 • 1907 – medical inspection in schools compulsory • 1908 Children’s charter protected children from cruelty and corruption – ie. Treatment of offenders

5. Education not dealt with Assessment Causes of Child poverty not dealt with Free Meals left to Local Authorities to deal with, Few did Adequately

6. Old People • Workhouses remained • 1908 – old age pensions (non-contributory) for those over 70 whose income under 60p per week. Single person received 25 p per week, and a married couple 37 ½ p

7. Assessment Inadequate amounts and few eligible for Old aged pensions Means tested, therefore, people were put off applying

8. Unemployed • 1909 – Labour exchanges • 1911 National Insurance Act – for low paid workers in 7 trades – covered 2.5 million workers. Employers. Employees and state made weekly contributions • Unemployed worker got 35 p per week for up to 15 weeks

9. Assessment Inadequate amounts and too few eligible Did not tackle causes of unemployment

10. Employed • 1906 Workman’s Compensation Act • 1911 National Health Insurance Act – for those earning less that £160 per year. Insured worker (not family) got free medical treatment, sickness, disability and maternity benefits • 1909 Coal Mines Act introduced 8 hr day • 1909 Trade Boards Act applied to “sweated industries not covered by existing Acts” set up boards to fix a minimum wage • 1911 Shop act gave assistants a weekly ½ day holiday and 60 hr per week working day

11. Assessment • Reforms a radical departure from laisser faire. State addressing needs previously deemed to be up to the individual • Provided a minimum for those in need • Reacting to problems of the time

12. 1870s – Libs and cons moved away from laisser faire/individualism to government intervention and collectivism. Limited social reforms on health housing and education passed before 1900. New Liberalism – changing attitude towards limited state intervention for humanitarian reasons pointed out by Findings of Booth and Rowntree and Fabians Sydney and Beatrice Webb Boer war 1899 – 1902 revealed poor state of nation’s health. 1 in 3 recruits failed army medical due to poor diet and living conditions Why??? Campaign of “national efficiency” – Brit industry falling behind Ger and USA. Politicians believed people work harder if better educated and healthier. Example of other countries – Lloyd George impressed with Ger military strength and social legislation of Bismarck – sickness/accident insurance and old age pensions of the 1880s

14. W/c enfranchised in 1867 and 1884 – Libs. had to take account of their views. Rise of Labour Party and TUC posed a threat to the Libs. as they promised radical socialist change to help w/c Key individuals in the Liberal Government believed social reform was morally just such as – Asquith. PM from 1908, Lloyd George as Chancellor of the Exchequer Why???