Assignment Flashcards
Introduction
In the early years of the 20th century, many British people lived in poverty. Servers published by social investigators concluded that approximately 30% of British people lived in poverty, and 10% of people couldnt afford to meet their basic needs. It was clear that the self-help approach wasnt working and not all poverty was due to idleness, drunkenness or other moral failings of the working class. The five social reforms of the liberal government were working to meet the needs of the young, old, sick, unemployed and employed. In this essay, I will argue that the social reforms of unemployment were the most effective in meeting the needs of the British people, however, other factors still required improvement.
YOUNG: KU 1 - Education (school meals) Act.
Allowed the provision of meals by local authorities to act in conjunction with charities. Parents could be charged if they could afford it, and local authorities could add a 1/2p onto the rates to pay for meals. There was also a treasury grant of 50% of the cost available.
YOUNG: ANALYSIS 1 (free school meals)
This therefore allowed poor children to eat at least one meal per day, giving them the energy to make the most of their education. The takeup for meals was significant and continued to expand from 3 million free meals in 1906 to 9 million in 1910. By 1914, the provision of free school meals became compulsory, with local authority spending supplemented by the government.
YOUNG: COUNTER 1 (meeting needs in holidays)
As a consequence, the number of free meals provided rose to 14 million meals. However, this proved that meeting the needs of children in Britain during the school holidays was hard as during the school holidays, children lost weight so it was obvious the government had not provided appropriate provision for school children.
YOUNG: quote and analysis
“it is the height of cruelty to subject half starved children to the process of education”
This means that people believed it was seen as inhumane and unethical to force a child who is struggling with food to deal with the problems of school. This also means the government clearly didnt care so much about the school children and their health.
YOUNG: KU 2 Education (administrative provisions) Act
Ensured children were examined 3 times in their school life, for previous disease, their height, weight, nutrition, any vermin on head, body and clothing. They were also examined for issues with their throat, ability to talk, deafness and mental capabilities.
YOUNG: ANALYSIS 2 (helped poor families)
This led to inspections being done by doctors or nurses, which was something many families couldn’t normally afford. It helped detect health problems early in life, such as malnutrition, TB and rickets. Grants were issued in 1912 to local authorities to set up treatment clinics so free medical care was given to all school children, which was an improvement for poor families.
YOUNG : COUNTER 2 (no financial support)
However, although actual inspections were free, at first there was no financial support given to treat conditions or diseases detected, and it wasnt compulsory for parents to seek treatment for their child. Even in 1912, some local authorities ignored the reform.
YOUNG EVALUATION (mostly effective)
Upon evaluation, the social reforms of the liberal government were mostly effective in meeting the needs of the young, but still required improvement. This was partially effective because it allowed poor children to eat at least one meal per day, but in 1912, some local authorities ignored the reform. However, by 1914, the provision of free school meals became compulsory, with local authority spending supplemented by the government.
OLD: KU 1 (old age pensions act)
Allowed all those over 70 a pension of between 1 and 5 shillings a week. Married couples received 7 shillings and 6 pence. This was provided they meet the criteria of having an annual income of between £21-31, were British, and lived in Britain for the previous 20 years, hadnt been imprisoned or arrested in the last 10 years and hadnt habitually avoided work.
