Acts

Question 1

Gilbert’s Act (1782)

Answer 1

“Old Poor Laws”, allowed Parishes to amalgamate into Poor Law Unions to form workhouses. However, voting was skewed to wealthy

Question 2

Removal Act (1795)

Answer 2

Modified the 1662 Settlement Act by preventing strangers from being removed from a parish unless they actually applied for relief in that parish.

Question 3

Sturges-Bourne Act (1818)

Answer 3

Created “Selective Vestries” who elected poor law officials and informed poor law policy. Voting skewed to wealthy

Question 4

Sturges-Bourne Act (1819)

Answer 4

Clergyman added to each of the Selective Vestries, and took pauper’s character into account when asking for relief.

Question 5

Royal Commission Enquiry (1832)

Answer 5

Commission set up to investigate parish conditions, 9 people, stated outrelief should stop, a central authority established and “Workhouse test”

Question 6

Poor Law Amendments Act (1834)

Answer 6

Implemented the RCE recommendations such as ending of outrelief, central authority established, workhouse test and parish amalgamation.

Question 7

Municipal Corporations Act (1835)

Answer 7

Allowed councils to control sewerage, sanitation and paving if they wished. Could apply for a private act of parliament. Councillors elected every 3 years

Question 8

Permissive Vaccination Act (1940)

Answer 8

Everyone entitled to be vaccinated for smallpox. The PLA responsible for vaccination program as readily available medical officers.

Question 9

Metropolitan Building Act (1844)

Answer 9

Houses now built within 30ft and linked to a sewer. Few authorities did this and many had no power over building houses. Only applied to new houses

Question 10

Nuisance Removal Acts (1846)

Answer 10

Nuisances were defined as accumulations of filth, foul drains/cesspools and unwholesome houses. Violators could be fined in petty session courts.

Question 11

Baths and Washhouses Act (1846)

Answer 11

Public money could be used by local authorities to provide baths and washhouses

Question 12

Towns Improvement Clauses Act (1847)

Answer 12

LA allowed to lay water supplies, drainage schemes and control nuisances. Allowed for sewage to go into rivers or sold for agriculture

Question 13

Public Health Act (1848)

Answer 13

Caused by Cholera and from legislation 46/7. LA set up BoH with Med Officers if 10% of taxpayers asked or deaths above 23/1k. Oversaw local health.

Question 14

Common Lodging Houses Act (1851-53)

Answer 14

All lodging houses had to be registered and could be inspected by police - rarely enforced regulations and poorly defined.

Question 15

Compulsory Vaccination Act (1853)

Answer 15

Mandatory to vaccinate children within 3 months of birth or £1 fine toward poor rate. Made vaccination common but LA differed in application.

Question 16

Local Government Act and Public Health Act (1858)

Answer 16

Local Government Act Office was established
Medical dptment within government established
Rate and powers of the General BoH set up by LG

Question 17

Union Chargeability Act (1865)

Answer 17

Placed the financial burden of relief on the union as a whole rather than on individual parishes.

Question 18

Sanitary Act (1866)

Answer 18

LA’s must remove nuisances or be fined, improve or demolish slums, ensure sewers connected. Cramming illegal, sanitary inspectors compulsory

Question 19

Parliamentary Reform Act (1867)

Answer 19

Gave some of the working class the vote. The election of Poor Law Guardians would also need to be more democratic.

Question 20

Artisans and Labourers Dwellings Act (1868)

Answer 20

Local councils had the authority to force landlords to repair insanitary houses. Councils could buy it and demolish it.

Question 21

Poor Law Loans Act (1869)

Answer 21

Allowed PL Guardians to extend repayments on loans with commissioners, allowing work on a range of projects without adding to the Poor Rate.

Question 22

Compulsory Vaccination Act (1871)

Answer 22

Made it compulsory for health boards appoint vaccination officers. Parents who did not have child vaccinated fined 25 shillings, then jailed if not paid.

Question 23

Public Health Act (1875)

Answer 23

Compulsory for LA’s to have a professionally qualified Medical Officer of Health. Poorly paid and insecure job.

Question 24

Artisans and Labourers’ Dwellings Improvement Act (1875)

Answer 24

Local councils had the power to clear whole districts of slums rather than just individual houses

Question 25

Local Government Act (1888)

Answer 25

Stipulated that all Medical Officers of Health in districts with a population of 50,000 had to be qualified doctors

Question 26

Education (Provision of Meals) Act (1906)

Answer 26

Allowed LA’s to use public money to give free school meals to children of needy parents. The state able to “act as a parent” in dire circumstances

Question 27

Education (Administrative Provision) Act (1907)

Answer 27

Set up a school’s medical services run by LA’s, helped by new gov’t Med Dept, resulting in school clinics. Grants available for treatment.

Question 28

Children and Young Persons Act (1908)

Answer 28

Children tried in juvenile courts, not allowed in pubs or sold tobacco, ‘protected persons’, abusive parents prosecuted. PLA help victims of neglect.

Question 29

Housing Act (1919)

Answer 29

Government subsidies were provided to LA’s to build affordable housing for low incomes. These were let out on low rents with long term tenancies.

Question 30

Public Health Act (1936)

Answer 30

LA’s given increased powers to pass by-laws over a range of public health areas. These varied from LA to LA. Set rules for construction of new buildings

Question 31

Food and Drugs Act (1938)

Answer 31

Gave local authorities further control over slaughterhouses and food standards.

Question 32

Poor Law Schools Act (1848)

Answer 32

PL Unions combine to provide schools where pauper children are taught. In cities like Leeds (more industrial areas), taught children a trade.

Question 33

The Forster Education Act (1870)

Answer 33

Set up schools without church provision in areas without proficient church schools.

Question 34

Old-age Pensions Act (1909)

Answer 34

Pensions were paid for all over 70. To qualify, needed to be UK residents for 20 years, had not claimed poor relief in 2 years or jailed in 10 years.

Question 35

Labour Exchange Act (1909)

Answer 35

This act set up a number of labour exchanges to help the unemployed find available work. Labour exchanges today are now known as ‘Jobs Centres’.

Question 36

National Insurance Act (1911)

Answer 36

Compulsory scheme aimed at keeping ill people and new mothers with no income afloat.

Question 37

Unemployment Act (1934)

Answer 37

Set up a national Unemployment Assistance Board to standardise dole payments and apply a means test. Means test was vigorous and set nationally.