National Efficiency

Question 1

What prompted NE?

Answer 1

Concern in the press re decline in British industrial producion vs that of Germany and the US
Press and high imperialists insisted that Britain would be eclipsed unless the nation became better educated and healthier

Question 2

Measures of NE?

Answer 2

1902 Education Act
Modernisation of the Royal navy
Establishment of Imperial College of Science and Tech (1907)
School Medical Inspection (1907)
Children's Welfare Charter (1908)
Old Age Pensions (1909)
Unemployment and Health insurance

Question 3

1902 Education Act?

Answer 3

Made significant provisions for secondary education
Councils encouraged to subsidise grammar schools and provide free places for working class children
Allowed local authorities to provide meals for free when parents couldn’t pay

Question 4

Modernisation of the Royal Navy?

Answer 4

Dreadnoughts introduced in 1906…by 1914 Britain had 24 vs Germany had 17
They had 12” guns and 18* 4” guns (evident arms ace)
Powered by steam turbines
Decommissioning of older battleships

Question 5

Establishment of Imperial (1907)

Answer 5

City and Guilds college to improve training of craftsmanship, technologists and engineers
87 acre land bought for 342.5k

Question 6

School Medical Inspections (1907)

Answer 6

Required education authorities to ensure all children under their care received a medical inspection

Question 7

Children’s Welfare Charter (1908)

Answer 7

Established juvenile courts
Children prevented going into pubs or smoking
Ie enhanced protection over children

Question 8

Old Age Pensions (1909)

Answer 8

introduction of pensions for 70 y/o

Question 9

Unemployment and health insurance

Answer 9

Compulsory health insurance for workers earning under 160/year
Free medical treatment offered