Liberal Effectiveness Flashcards
Intro
Context
LofA n factors
C19th gov Laissez-Faire
Booth n Rowntree surveys and Samuel Smiles ‘self-help’
1906 liberal landslide
Failed to meet needs of young, old, sick, and unemployed
Needs of the young
KAKA+KAKA+E
1906 Schools Meals Act free meals to tackle child malnutrition
9 million School meals provided a year,Kids put on weight, saved families money
Only attended school 190 days a year, lost weight over summer
Proves government half-hearted in attempts to stop malnutrition
School medical inspections act 1907
Every child checked by doctor for illness
Treatment not free until 1913 though, even then education authorities ignored that
E: FAILED DUE TO POOR IMPLEMENTATION. CHILDRENS ACT OF 1908. SHOPS DIDNT BOTHER TO FOLLOW RULES AND GOT AWAY WITH IT
The OLD
KAKA+E+
1908 Old Age Pension Act, 5 shillings for over 70s
Ease the previously very real threat of the workhouse for elderly
However, barely enough to live on, especially married couples
The act didn’t cover people who has no birth certificate, or been in prison, detained under the inebriates Act in the last 10 years.
Important because it didn’t cover many people
E: LIFE EXPECTANCY 52 IN 1908. GOV INCOMPETENT!! 70!!
SICK
KAKA+E
National Insurance Act Part 1 1911
Contributory scheme, gov paid 2D, workers 4D, employers 3D
Unprecedented intervention from gov, basic cover
However no opt-out policy
Resentment as essentially a pay cut
E: NO PROVISIOM FOR FAMILY OR AFTER 26 WEEKS, POOR LAW. MARTIN PUGH: “Social Reforms were in no sense a welfare state”
UNEMPLOYED
KAKA+KA+E
Labour Exchanges Act 1909, employers could advertise jobs
In 1910 83 exchanges were set up,
Unfair dismissal not tackled by NI Act pt2, until 1963 Employment Act
Workers could lose benefits due to employer malpractice
Only guaranteed cover to seasonal workers, eg shipbuilders
Majority of unemployed were ignored and unsupported
E: POOR LAW AFTER 15 WEEKS OF UNEMPLOYMENT OR IF NOT IN SPECIFIC TRADE
