Liberal Welfare ReformsLiberal Welfare Reforms1906-19141906-1914

NotesNotes

The YoungThe Young

BackgroundBackground

Education compulsory since 1872Education compulsory since 1872

Children coming to school dirty, hungry and sickChildren coming to school dirty, hungry and sick

‘‘Feed the stomach then the mind’Feed the stomach then the mind’

Aim – to tackle the problem of ‘national Aim – to tackle the problem of ‘national efficiency’efficiency’

Growing support for free school meals and Growing support for free school meals and medical inspections in schoolsmedical inspections in schools

Pressure from Labour PartyPressure from Labour Party

The YoungThe Young

Education( Provision of Meals) Act 1906Education( Provision of Meals) Act 1906

Powers given to local councils and Powers given to local councils and charitiescharities

Parents charged a small fee, councils Parents charged a small fee, councils could increase local taxes, grants providedcould increase local taxes, grants provided

1906 – 9 million school meals1906 – 9 million school meals

1914 – 14 million school meals1914 – 14 million school meals

1912 – 50% of councils not involved1912 – 50% of councils not involved

The YoungThe Young

Education (Administrative Provisions) Act Education (Administrative Provisions) Act 19071907School Medical InspectionsSchool Medical InspectionsInfluence of Robert Morant – Head of Influence of Robert Morant – Head of Education BoardEducation BoardGovernment fears about effects – future Government fears about effects – future cost of dealing with health problemscost of dealing with health problemsAct 1907 – inspection of primary school Act 1907 – inspection of primary school pupilspupils

The YoungThe Young

Serious health problems identified – children Serious health problems identified – children untreated due to poverty – costuntreated due to poverty – cost1912 Councils given small grants to provide 1912 Councils given small grants to provide school clinicsschool clinicsEducation (Scotland) Act 1908 introduced Education (Scotland) Act 1908 introduced inspections and allowed councils to take action inspections and allowed councils to take action against parents who neglected their childrenagainst parents who neglected their childrenMain effect – showed extent of health problems Main effect – showed extent of health problems amongst the youngamongst the youngMany health problems remained untreatedMany health problems remained untreated

The YoungThe Young

Children Act 1908Children Act 1908

Made it illegal for parents to neglect childrenMade it illegal for parents to neglect children

Series of steps to protect children – Series of steps to protect children – smoking and drinking banned for under smoking and drinking banned for under sixteens, begging banned, juvenile courts sixteens, begging banned, juvenile courts set up, borstals set up (corrective schools), set up, borstals set up (corrective schools), probation officers for child offendersprobation officers for child offenders

Positive steps to protect childrenPositive steps to protect children

The OldThe Old

BackgroundBackground

Influence of Lloyd George, Churchill after Influence of Lloyd George, Churchill after 1908 – ‘New Liberals’1908 – ‘New Liberals’

Need to tackle povertyNeed to tackle poverty

Concerns about ‘national efficiency’Concerns about ‘national efficiency’

Concerns about economic and military Concerns about economic and military strength of Germany – introduced strength of Germany – introduced pensions in 1889pensions in 1889

The OldThe Old

Fears about cost – increased taxation – Fears about cost – increased taxation – government aimed to keep costs downgovernment aimed to keep costs downOpposition of Friendly Societies – made Opposition of Friendly Societies – made profits providing private pensions to profits providing private pensions to working peopleworking peoplePublic in favour of Old Age PensionsPublic in favour of Old Age PensionsSupport of Trade UnionsSupport of Trade UnionsSupport of Labour Party – won two by-Support of Labour Party – won two by-elections from Liberals in 1907elections from Liberals in 1907

The OldThe Old

Old Age Pensions Act 1908Old Age Pensions Act 1908

People over 70 with an annual income of £21 - People over 70 with an annual income of £21 - £31 per year given 5p – 25p per week£31 per year given 5p – 25p per week

Had to be UK residents for 25 years – no ex Had to be UK residents for 25 years – no ex prisoners, no work shy, no drunksprisoners, no work shy, no drunks

Maximum pension of 25p per week still left Maximum pension of 25p per week still left people below the poverty line (Rowntree)people below the poverty line (Rowntree)

Huge demand – 1million pensioners by 1914Huge demand – 1million pensioners by 1914

Liberals underestimated extent of problemLiberals underestimated extent of problem

The SickThe Sick

BackgroundBackground

Plans for a unified systemPlans for a unified system

National insurance scheme to be set up National insurance scheme to be set up

Taxes raised – income tax, super tax on rich, Taxes raised – income tax, super tax on rich, capital gains tax (tax on sale of property)capital gains tax (tax on sale of property)

Opposition of Friendly Societies – loss of Opposition of Friendly Societies – loss of businessbusiness

Opposition of doctors – fears about having to Opposition of doctors – fears about having to provide cheap treatment to the poorprovide cheap treatment to the poor

The SickThe Sick

National Insurance Act 1911 (Part 1)National Insurance Act 1911 (Part 1)

Health insuranceHealth insurance

Workers/Employers/Government contributions Workers/Employers/Government contributions each week each week

Entitlements – sickness benefit of 50p per week Entitlements – sickness benefit of 50p per week for 13 weeks then 25p for 13 weeksfor 13 weeks then 25p for 13 weeks

Disablement Benefit of 25p after 26 weeksDisablement Benefit of 25p after 26 weeks

Maternity benefit introducedMaternity benefit introduced

Treatment by government approved doctorsTreatment by government approved doctors

The SickThe Sick

Basic provision of health care for the poor Basic provision of health care for the poor in Britainin Britain

Some relief from fear of illness and its Some relief from fear of illness and its impact on familiesimpact on families

Workers families not covered by the Workers families not covered by the schemescheme

Hospital treatment not covered by health Hospital treatment not covered by health insuranceinsurance

The Unemployed/Low PaidThe Unemployed/Low Paid

BackgroundBackground

Changing attitudes to unemploymentChanging attitudes to unemployment

Unemployment often outwith the control of Unemployment often outwith the control of workers – cyclical, seasonalworkers – cyclical, seasonal

Unemployment demonstrations 1903 – 1905Unemployment demonstrations 1903 – 1905

Trade unions supported better unemployed Trade unions supported better unemployed rightsrights

Unemployed could vote – appeal of Labour Unemployed could vote – appeal of Labour PartyParty

The Unemployed/Low PaidThe Unemployed/Low Paid

Unemployed Workmen’s Act 1905Unemployed Workmen’s Act 1905

Distress Committees set up to help unemployed Distress Committees set up to help unemployed – public works schemes, payments to – public works schemes, payments to unemployed, help to emigrateunemployed, help to emigrate

Money raised through local taxes and public Money raised through local taxes and public appealsappeals

Lack of money – many schemes were temporaryLack of money – many schemes were temporary

Raised awareness of problem of unemployment Raised awareness of problem of unemployment

The Unemployed/Low PaidThe Unemployed/Low Paid

Labour Exchanges 1909Labour Exchanges 1909

Employment arrangements inefficient – men Employment arrangements inefficient – men hanging around factories looking for workhanging around factories looking for work

Solution – Labour Exchanges – employers Solution – Labour Exchanges – employers registered jobs – information passed to registered jobs – information passed to unemployedunemployed

1910 – 83 Labour Exchanges1910 – 83 Labour Exchanges

1913 – 430 Labour Exchanges1913 – 430 Labour Exchanges

Success – 3,000 found jobs every day by 1914Success – 3,000 found jobs every day by 1914

The Unemployed/Low PaidThe Unemployed/Low Paid

National Insurance Act 1911 (Part 2National Insurance Act 1911 (Part 2Unemployment insuranceUnemployment insuranceWorkers/Employers/Government made Workers/Employers/Government made weekly contributions weekly contributions Trades involved – shipbuilding, Trades involved – shipbuilding, engineering, building, iron making, engineering, building, iron making, sawmillingsawmillingPayments when unemployed 35p a week Payments when unemployed 35p a week for 15 weeks each yearfor 15 weeks each year

The Unemployed/Low PaidThe Unemployed/Low Paid

Insured worker had to register at a Labour Insured worker had to register at a Labour ExchangeExchange

Workers who were dismissed did not Workers who were dismissed did not receive benefitsreceive benefits

2.3 million workers insured by 1913 2.3 million workers insured by 1913

Small proportion of the working population Small proportion of the working population but was the beginning of a comprehensive but was the beginning of a comprehensive system for helping the unemployedsystem for helping the unemployed

The Unemployed/Low PaidThe Unemployed/Low Paid

Help for the EmployedHelp for the EmployedWorkmen’s Compensation Act 1906 – Workmen’s Compensation Act 1906 – compensation for injuries received at work to be compensation for injuries received at work to be paid by employerspaid by employersCoal Mines Act 1908 – shorter hours for coal Coal Mines Act 1908 – shorter hours for coal minersminersTrade Boards Act 1909 – minimum wages for Trade Boards Act 1909 – minimum wages for women in low paid workwomen in low paid workShops Act 1911 – half day off each week for Shops Act 1911 – half day off each week for shop workersshop workersActs helped vulnerable workersActs helped vulnerable workers