Britain 1970-1974 (KO)

Question 1

When did Heath win the election?

Answer 1

1970

Question 2

When was the Industrial Relations Act?

Answer 2

1971

Question 3

When does the UK formally enter the EEC

Answer 3

1973

Question 4

When does Wilson beat Heath?

Answer 4

1974

Question 5

How many seats did the Conservatives win in the 1970 election?

Answer 5

330

Question 6

What was the three-day week? What were its impacts?

Answer 6

• Restrictive measures limiting people to electricity three days a week, interfering with industry.
• Reminder of the austerity of wartime, people sat without light and heating for long periods.

Question 7

What allowed Britains 1973 EEC entry? What was Heaths reasoning?

Answer 7

• De Gaulle retiring
• The economic situation made it essential

Question 8

What did Britain sign in 1972 to become a full member of the EEC?

Answer 8

The Treaty of Accession in 1972 - became full member in 1973

Question 9

What was a weakness of Britain’s entry? Example?

Answer 9

• Due to late entry, it could not negotiate from a position of strength.
• The EEC demanded that commonwealth food and goods could not longer enter on preferential terms.

Question 10

What caused the international oil price rise in 1973?

Answer 10

In the Arab-Israeli war in 1973, countries deemed to support Israel were restricted in the amount and price of oil, which was controlled by OPEC (middle eastern controllers of global oil)

Question 11

What was the impact on the price of a barrel of oil of the international oil price rise 1973?

Answer 11

• prices of oil were increased from $2 to $35 per barrel.

Question 12

What did the 1973 oil crisis do to British industry? Balance of payments deficit? Value of sterling? Unemployment doubles between?

Answer 12

• This caused rapid and severe inflation in industry, leading to severe recession.
• balance of payments deficit rises to £1 billion.
• 16% inflation
• value of sterling drops to $1.57
• unemployment doubled between 1974-6.

Question 13

What was the idea of the ‘Selsdon man’?

Answer 13

• A symbolic anti-Keynesian, pro-market individual.
• Based on Heath having announced desire to break the post-war consensus on state intervention at Selsdon Park.

Question 14

What was the reform of Local government under Heath?

Answer 14

• led by Peter Walker
• Sweeping reforms, reshaping the structure of local government and destroying historical administrative landmarks
• seen as an attack on local identity

Question 15

What pushed Heath to his U-turn?

Answer 15

• Inflation had risen to 15% by the end of 1971
• Declining industrial output

Question 16

What are examples of Heath’s U-turn?

Answer 16

• a return to controlling prices and incomes and reversing its approach to ‘lame ducks’.
• Rolls Royce and Upper Clyde Shipbuilders were both nationalised in 1971 and sustained by government grants.

Question 17

What made it impossible to enforce the Industrial relations Act of 1971?

Answer 17

Unions refused to register - the government appeared incompetent.

Question 18

How many days were lost to strikes in 1974?

Answer 18

14,750,000

Question 19

What led Heath to impose the three-day week?

Answer 19

• Led by Arthur Scargill, the miners went on strikes in 1972 using flying pickets.

Question 20

What was the wage increase the NUM gained after the strikes?

Answer 20

21%

Question 21

What led to Heath calling an election on who run the country?

Answer 21

The NUM calling for another strike in 1974

Question 22

What did the Industrial Relations Act of 1971 propose?

Answer 22

• market forces allowed to operate so trade unions don’t have unfair advantages.
• Restricted the right of workers to strike.
• National Industrial Relations Court created to judge validity of strike action.
• Unions required to go on government register.

Question 23

Who was John Davis?

Answer 23

• The head of the new department of trade and industry (DTI).
• Encouraged giving market forces freer reign, against helping ‘lame ducks’.

Question 24

Who was Anthony Barber? What were his early measures?

Answer 24

• The chancellor of the Exchequer
• Income tax cuts
• Reductions in government spending
• withdrawal of free milk for school children ‘Margaret Thatcher milk snatcher’

Question 25

What were the reasons for Heath’s loss in February 1974?

Answer 25

• rapid inflation meant holding down prices was impossible.
• Strikes caused productivity decline.
• Unemployment at new peaks.
• Three-day week showed lack of control.

Question 26

What was unemployment in 1974?

Answer 26

628,000