Liberal Reforms - Impact Flashcards
Background info
-Government previously held a laissez faire attitude
-People thought that the government should be more involved and help out their citizens rather than take the backseat
-1906 David Lloyd George became PM
Old age Pension
-The old age pension act was introduced in 1908
-Pensions were available for over 70’s and they ranged from 5 pence to 25 pence per pensioner.
Old age pension - Benefit
-The act supported working class pensioners who used the money to live
-By 1914, nearly a million people in Britain were receiving the pension.
Old age pension - Negative
-The average man only lived into 49 (50 for women)
-The average pensioner also needed at least 35 pence a week to live above the poverty line.
Provision of free school meals act
-Introduced in 1906 the provision of free school meals act gave local councils the option to raise taxes in order to fund free school meals for children.
Free school meals act - Negative
-However during school holidays there was a massive increase in the malnutrition of children as there was no support system outside of school
School meals act - Benefit
-In 1914 the government made free school meals mandatory
-Helped improve the general health of children who may not have had a meal that day
National Insurance act
-In 1911 the national insurance act was introduced and the act was split into 2 parts
-Part 1 aimed to help the sick
-Part 2 helped the unemployed
-Was accessible to workers as long as they paid 4 pence a week
National insurance act - benefit
-The act made sure that people having to leave work would be paid 10 shillings per week for 13 weeks, then 5 shillings for 13 weeks
-A lot of jobs (e.g shipyard work) was temporary
National insurance act - negative
-The act was unsuccessful as the majority of workers couldn’t afford to pay 4 pence out their wages in order to get national insurance
