Second Labour Government (1929-1931)

Question 1

When did they come to power?

Answer 1

1929.

Question 2

What was the unemployment rate in 1929?

Answer 2

Over 1 million.

Question 3

What was the housing act that Labour proposed?

Answer 3

Greenwoods Housing Act 1930.

Question 4

What did the housing act do?

Answer 4

Offer subsidies for houses which cleared 245,000 slums replaced with 700,000 houses.

Question 5

What did the Land Utilisation Act do?

Answer 5

Gives Labour powers to purchase land anywhere in the UK.

Question 6

What did the Agricultural Marketing Act do?

Answer 6

Established marketing boards to help producers.

Question 7

What did the Coal Mines Act do?

Answer 7

Reduced the miners days from 8 hours to 7.5 hours.

Question 8

What did the government initially do to unemployment benefits?

Answer 8

Initially they increased the benefit.

Question 9

What was the Education Bill and why did it fail?

Answer 9

To raise the school leaving age to 15 - and because the Liberal party didn’t support the bill.

Question 10

What did the government decide to do to the Trades Disputes Act of 1927 and why did this fail?

Answer 10

They attempted to repeal the act but failed due to lack of Liberal support.

Question 11

What happened in October 1927?

Answer 11

The Wall Street Crash in America.

Question 12

How did the Wall Street Crash affect Britain?

Answer 12

The value of British exports was halved and unemployment rose.

Question 13

What was the unemployment rate in 1931?

Answer 13

Nearly 3 million.

Question 14

What did MacDonald set up in 1930 to help the government?

Answer 14

The Economic Advisory Council to help improve the situation.

Question 15

Who was Phillip Snowden?

Answer 15

The Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Question 16

What did Philip Snowden feel the government should do to deal with the crisis?

Answer 16

He felt the government should be balancing the budget.

Question 17

What was the Labour party torn about?

Answer 17

Whether to cut unemployment benefit.

Question 18

Who was Oswald Moseley?

Answer 18

A junior minister.

Question 19

What did Oswald Moseley propose?

Answer 19

He wanted to set up public working schemes and social reforms through government loads.

Question 20

Why did Moseley resign in May 1930?

Answer 20

Because his “Moseley’s Memorandum” was rejected.

Question 21

What happened in July 1931?

Answer 21

The Major European Banking Crisis spread to Britain.

Question 22

What was the May Committee?

Answer 22

It was set up to try and consider how the government could do its expenditure.

Question 23

What did the May Committee report suggest?

Answer 23

There would be a major budget deficit of £120 million by 1932. Also, it suggested 20% unemployment benefit cuts and £96 million cuts in public expenditure.

Question 24

How did the report affect the financial crisis?

Answer 24

It drew attention to the British alleged problems. Nearly 1/4 of British reserves dissapeared and ministers were called for emergency meetings.