Friday Test Flashcards
BK
Attitudes towards poverty in C19th were Laissez-faire.
Although the Liberals had not been elected in 1906 on a social reform manifesto, the overwhelming evidence regarding the scale of poverty as well as developing concerns about the health of the nation (as an Empire, Britain could ill afford to let her economic lead slip), led to a series of limited social reforms that were introduced by the Liberal Party.
The Young KU+ANALYSIS+DEV
In 1906 the liberal government introduced the School Meals Act which authorized local councils to raise local taxes to fund providing free school meals to the poorest children.
1907 the Medical Inspection Act made a medical inspection of children compulsory and a child was to receive three inspections in their school career.
ANALYSIS
Analysis: The School Meal Act in 1906 was good at helping children and tackling malnutrition because it guaranteed one nutritional meal a day. The Medical Inspection Act was good at helping children and tackling ill health as it guaranteed children would have three formal inspections throughout their school career which would identify health issues.
DevAnalysis
However, as it was a voluntary scheme very few local authorities actually provided these school meals and by 1914 only 25% were doing so. The Medical Inspections Act did not offer treatment so it was not having a real impact.
The Old KU+ANALYSIS
Under the Pensions Act of 1908, people over the age of 70 could get between 1 and 5 shillings a week depending on income.
You could receive this only if you earned under £160 a year and pensions were collected at the Post Office.
ANALYSIS
The Old Age Pension Act of 1908 was good at helping the elderly and gave them a guaranteed income in old age. The fact that pensions were issued in Post Offices was good because it removed the stigma associated with receiving a benefit.
DEVANALYSIS
However, arguably many who were too old to work received no help as they were issued to those aged 70+. In the inner cities the life expectancy of the poorest was around 55.
The Sick KU+ANALYSIS+DEV
This was through part 1 of the National Insurance Act 1911. An insured worker between the age of 16-60 who earned less than £160 a year could receive 10 shillings a week for 26 weeks when off sick.
This was used by 15 million workers.
ANALYSIS
The National Insurance Scheme Part 1 (Sickness Benefit) from 1911 was a real help as it gave support to those who were unable to work and at risk of falling into poverty through ill health.
DEVANALYSIS
However, after 13 weeks benefit levels were reduced and cut altogether after 26 weeks. This meant it did not help those with long term illness.
The Unemployed KU+ANALYSIS+DEV
Part 2 of the National Insurance Act provided 15 weeks of the cover of 7 shillings a week for the unemployed. 2.25 Million people used this and these benefits could be collected at the Labour Exchange.
The Labour Exchange of 1909 helped people find jobs and by 1914, 1 million people had used these to find a job.
ANALYSIS
The 1911 National Insurance Scheme Part 2 (Unemployment Benefits) did provide support financially to those who lost their job through cyclical nature of employment that was associated with their industry and provided a safety net to helped them avoid poverty when in between jobs. Labour Exchange from 1909 helped to find work for the unemployed and assisted up to 3000 people a day to escape joblessness.
DEVANALYSIS
However, national insurance offered only a temporary measure as it only provided help for 15 weeks before payments were cut. Socialists criticised it as the compulsory payments associated with the national insurance scheme were a draw on the meagre wages of workers. A lot of work that was advertised in the Labour Exchange was low paid and people did not really escape poverty
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