Liberal Reforms (1906 - 1912) Flashcards
Education (School Meals) Act 1906
Provisions?
Effects?
Limitations?
Provisions-School meals provided and funded by central gov up to 50%
Effects-Central gov would provide 50% finance for meals
Limits-Not compulsory, and therefore by 1914 only 31k students in receipt.
Trades Dispute Act 1906
Provisions?
Effects?
Limitations?
Provisions-Unions cannot face civil action for striking
Effects-Protected Unions
Limitations-
Workmen’s Compensation Act 1906
Provisions?
Effects?
Limitations?
Provisions-Expanded ability of workers to seek compensation for injury at work.
Effects-6m workers eligible if needed.
Limitations-Working class labour was unlikely to go to court and would require Union support.
Merchant Shipping Act 1906
Provisions?
Effects?
Limitations?
Provisions-Est regs to cover standards of food and accom on ships.
Effects-Improved conditions for seamen
Limitations-
Children’s Act 1908 (Children’s Charter)
Provisions?
Effects?
Limitations?
Provisions-Penalties for selling tobacco or alcohol to children
- Est. Juvenile courts
- Banned death sentence for children
- Punishments for neglect or abuse
- Banned imprisonment of children under 14
- Banned child begging
Effects-protected children from the above.
Separated juveniles from adult offenders
Limitations-did not address cause of juvenile crime
-withdrew source of income (begging)
Old Age Pensions Act 1908
Provisions?
Effects?
Limitations?
Provisions-Pension for over 70’s earning under a certain amount/ year
Effects-provided a state pension for the elderly.
Limitations-Age too high?
- Not eligible if had been/ was in receipt of unemployment relief (which was low)
- Spent time in prison in last 10 years = not eligible.
- Argued to not provide enough even for those on it.
Trade Board Act 1909
Provisions?
Effects?
Limitations?
Provisions-Boards est. to supervise pay of skilled crafts like tailoring.
Effects-200k workers benefited incl. 140k women
Limitations-did not define a minimum wage.
Labour Exchanges Act 1909
Provisions?
Effects?
Limitations?
Provisions-Set up job centres
Effects-430 est.
Limitations-Only 25% who registered found work
The People’s Budget 1909
Provisions?
Effects?
Limitations?
Provisions-Intro’d a graduated scheme of income taxation for the rich
- Taxation on property
- To fund social reform and ship building
Effects-Constitutional crisis
Parliament Act 1911
Provisions?
Effects?
Limitations?
Provisions-Lords could not veto finance bills
- Lords had 2 years to veto bills
- Gov time in office reduced from 7 to 5 years.
Effect-Weakened the Lords and thus the Cons. in turn
-Strengthened elected house compared to unelected upper house.
Limitations-
National Insurance Act 1911
Provisions?
Effects?
Limitations?
Provisions-National health insurance
-15 weeks of unemployment/ sick pay
Effects-protected some workers (e.g shipbuilding, mechanical engineering)
Limitations-Only available to some trades
- limited to 15 weeks, after that = poor laws used
- workers who were fired = not eligible
- became expensive, particularly after WW1 when unemployment increased.
Miner’s Minimum Wage Act 1912
Provisions?
Effects?
Limitations?
Provisions-Boards est. to provide miners w/ a min. wage set at local rates.
Effects-Min. wage for miners
Limitations-
