Acts Flashcards
Gilbert’s Act (1782)
“Old Poor Laws”, allowed Parishes to amalgamate into Poor Law Unions to form workhouses. However, voting was skewed to wealthy
Removal Act (1795)
Modified the 1662 Settlement Act by preventing strangers from being removed from a parish unless they actually applied for relief in that parish.
Sturges-Bourne Act (1818)
Created “Selective Vestries” who elected poor law officials and informed poor law policy. Voting skewed to wealthy
Sturges-Bourne Act (1819)
Clergyman added to each of the Selective Vestries, and took pauper’s character into account when asking for relief.
Royal Commission Enquiry (1832)
Commission set up to investigate parish conditions, 9 people, stated outrelief should stop, a central authority established and “Workhouse test”
Poor Law Amendments Act (1834)
Implemented the RCE recommendations such as ending of outrelief, central authority established, workhouse test and parish amalgamation.
Municipal Corporations Act (1835)
Allowed councils to control sewerage, sanitation and paving if they wished. Could apply for a private act of parliament. Councillors elected every 3 years
Permissive Vaccination Act (1940)
Everyone entitled to be vaccinated for smallpox. The PLA responsible for vaccination program as readily available medical officers.
Metropolitan Building Act (1844)
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
Nuisance Removal Acts (1846)
Nuisances were defined as accumulations of filth, foul drains/cesspools and unwholesome houses. Violators could be fined in petty session courts.
Baths and Washhouses Act (1846)
Public money could be used by local authorities to provide baths and washhouses
Towns Improvement Clauses Act (1847)
LA allowed to lay water supplies, drainage schemes and control nuisances. Allowed for sewage to go into rivers or sold for agriculture
Public Health Act (1848)
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.
Common Lodging Houses Act (1851-53)
All lodging houses had to be registered and could be inspected by police - rarely enforced regulations and poorly defined.
Compulsory Vaccination Act (1853)
Mandatory to vaccinate children within 3 months of birth or £1 fine toward poor rate. Made vaccination common but LA differed in application.
Local Government Act and Public Health Act (1858)
Local Government Act Office was established
Medical dptment within government established
Rate and powers of the General BoH set up by LG
Union Chargeability Act (1865)
Placed the financial burden of relief on the union as a whole rather than on individual parishes.
Sanitary Act (1866)
LA’s must remove nuisances or be fined, improve or demolish slums, ensure sewers connected. Cramming illegal, sanitary inspectors compulsory
Parliamentary Reform Act (1867)
Gave some of the working class the vote. The election of Poor Law Guardians would also need to be more democratic.
Artisans and Labourers Dwellings Act (1868)
Local councils had the authority to force landlords to repair insanitary houses. Councils could buy it and demolish it.
Poor Law Loans Act (1869)
Allowed PL Guardians to extend repayments on loans with commissioners, allowing work on a range of projects without adding to the Poor Rate.
Compulsory Vaccination Act (1871)
Made it compulsory for health boards appoint vaccination officers. Parents who did not have child vaccinated fined 25 shillings, then jailed if not paid.
Public Health Act (1875)
Compulsory for LA’s to have a professionally qualified Medical Officer of Health. Poorly paid and insecure job.
Artisans and Labourers’ Dwellings Improvement Act (1875)
Local councils had the power to clear whole districts of slums rather than just individual houses
Local Government Act (1888)
Stipulated that all Medical Officers of Health in districts with a population of 50,000 had to be qualified doctors
Education (Provision of Meals) Act (1906)
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
Education (Administrative Provision) Act (1907)
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.
Children and Young Persons Act (1908)
Children tried in juvenile courts, not allowed in pubs or sold tobacco, ‘protected persons’, abusive parents prosecuted. PLA help victims of neglect.
Housing Act (1919)
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.
Public Health Act (1936)
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
Food and Drugs Act (1938)
Gave local authorities further control over slaughterhouses and food standards.
Poor Law Schools Act (1848)
PL Unions combine to provide schools where pauper children are taught. In cities like Leeds (more industrial areas), taught children a trade.
The Forster Education Act (1870)
Set up schools without church provision in areas without proficient church schools.
Old-age Pensions Act (1909)
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.
Labour Exchange Act (1909)
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’.
National Insurance Act (1911)
Compulsory scheme aimed at keeping ill people and new mothers with no income afloat.
Unemployment Act (1934)
Set up a national Unemployment Assistance Board to standardise dole payments and apply a means test. Means test was vigorous and set nationally.
