Liberal Reforms 1906-1914 Flashcards
What did the 1906 (meals) Education act do?
Local authorities able to give free school meals for needy children so they could concentrate more.
When were the Education Acts passed?
(Meals) 1906 and (medical inspection) 1907.
What were the strengths of the 1906 (meals) Education act?
By 1914 14 million free school meals a year being provided by LEAs.
What were the weaknesses of the 1906 (meals) education act?
Not compulsory.
Not all LEAs used this power before 1914, 1913 about 1/2 providing free meals.
What was the 1907 (medical inspection) Education act?
Set up School Medical Service.
Compulsory for LEAs to medically inspect school children.
What were the strengths of the 1907 (medical inspection) Education act?
By 1914, 3/4 LEAs providing free medical inspection.
2/3 some form of free medical treatment.
What were the weaknesses of the 1907 (medical inspection) Education act?
Only cursory check and not always treatment.
Poor unable to afford to treat conditions revealed by inspection.
When was the Children Act passed?
1908.
What was the Children Act?
Parental neglect illegal.
Set up juvenile courts for young offenders, children unable to go to prison.
Illegal to sell tobacco and alcohol to children.
What were the strengths of the 1908 Children Act?
State ensured minimum standard of protection & care for children.
Child and adult offenders separated.
What were the weaknesses of the 1908 Children Act?
Didn’t eradicate the exploitation of children.
When was the Old Age Pensions Act introduced?
1908.
What did the Old Age Pensions Act do?
Provided pension of 5 Shillings (5s) a week for a single couple.
7s6d for a married couple.
What were the strengths of the 1908 Old Age Pensions Act?
‘Non-contributory’, payed by taxes.
Payed by state through local post offices not Poor Law, to avoid people being too ashamed.
About 1 million pensioners by 1915.
(Still in place today.)
What were the weaknesses of the 1908 Old Age Pensions Act?
Only to elderly poor, over 70 on very low income.
Only poorest got the full amount of the pension.
Pension bare minimum for survival.
When were Trade Boards set up?
1909.
What were the strengths of the Trade Boards?
Helped maintain conditions in trades like tailoring and lace-making where there was no trade unions.
What were the weaknesses of the Trade Boards?
Only covered ‘sweated trades’, left out other low paid workers eg. In farming.
Too few inspectors to fully enforce.
When were Labour exchanges introduced?
1909.
What were Labour Exchanges?
Set up places for people looking for a job and employers to meet.
What were the strengths of the Labour Exchanges?
2 million workers had registered by 1914.
430 exchanges finding 3,000 jobs a day.
What were the weaknesses of the Labour Exchanges?
For every worker that found a job 3 didn’t.
Not creating jobs for unemployed only helping job market operate more smoothly.
When was the National Insurance (unemployment) Act introduced?
1911.
What was the National Insurance (unemployment) Act?
Sate compelled workers & employers in some trades to contribute weekly to national insurance fund. State topped it up from taxation
Enabled workers to receive weekly benefit of unemployed.
What were the strengths of the National Insurance (unemployment) Act?
Covered 2.25 million.
Provided 7s/week benefit up to 15 weeks.
Enabled families to avoid destitution whilst breadwinner found new job.
What were the weaknesses of the National Insurance (unemployment) Act?
Only some trades, known for seasonal or cyclical unemployment eg. Farm labour & Shipbuilding.
When was the National Insurance (sickness) Act introduced?
1911.
What was the National Insurance (sickness) Act?
Compulsory scheme where workers, employers & state paid weekly into national fund.
Worker 4d, employer 3d and state 2d.
What were the strengths of the National Insurance (sickness) Act?
Covered 13 million workers.
Paid weekly sickness benefit of 10s a week for 13 weeks then 5s for further 13 weeks.
Free treatment for those with TB.
Maternity grant for women, disability benefit & free medical treatment with approved doctor.
What were the weaknesses of the National Insurance (sickness) Act?
Only workers earning below £160 pa.
Only workers aged 16-60.
Only covered the worker not the family.
When was the Workman’s Compensation Act introduced?
1906.
What were the strengths of the Workman’s Compensation Act?
Compensated workers for work-based accidents & diseases.
What were the weaknesses of the Workman’s Compensation Act?
Not easy to prove injuries & health due to work.
When was the Shops Act introduced?
1911.
What were the strengths of the Shops Act?
Wednesday weekly 1/2 day holiday for shop workers.
What were the weaknesses of the Shop Act?
Employers could make up holiday with longer hours on other days.
When were the Coal Mines Acts introduced?
1908 & 1911.
What were the strengths of the Coal Mines Acts?
Fixed length of working day underground to 8 hours.
Improved safety regulations.
What were the weaknesses of the Coal Mines Acts?
Didn’t improve pay.
