Liberal Reforming Legislation

Question 1

Roy Jenkins, and the end of the 1960s

Answer 1

Some of the old taboos and prejudices, which Roy Jenkins had deemed prejudicial to civilised society, had begun to breakdown. There was a gradual evolution of government legislation.

Question 2

What are Private members bills

Answer 2

Private members bills are public bills introduced by MPs and lords, who are not government ministers. Such bills rarely become law.

Question 3

Private members, bills and labour government government

Answer 3

In the 1960s, back bench MPs brought a number of reforms through private members bills and they were successful because Jenkins was sympathetic and enabled enough parliamentary time for the reforms to be passed.

Question 4

The end of capital punishment.
Death penalty

Answer 4

Arguments against the death penalty had been advanced in the 1950s, although public opinion remained divided. the anti-hanging campaign had received and particular boost from the ruth Ellis case 1955

Question 5

The end of capital punishment
1957 and death penalties.

Answer 5

In 1957, had reduced the number of offences carrying the death penalty, but the labour backbencher, Sydney Silverman continued to campaign win support for a total abolition of death penalty.

Question 6

The end of capital punishment
What was abolished in 1969

Answer 6

In 1965, Hanging was abolished for a trial period of five years and in 1969, this was made permanent

Question 7

The end of capital punishment
Jenkins, courts and prisoners

Answer 7

Jenkins refused to authorise the beating of prisoners which seized after 1967, and he brought “majority”verdicts for English juries rather than demanding unanimity. This helped convict many dangerous professional criminals

Question 8

What is unanimity

Answer 8

When all 12 jurors had to agree on the verdict, the majority verdict meant that a decision could be reached if at least 10 jurors agreed.

Question 9

The divorce reform
The divorce process before the 1960s

Answer 9

Until the 1960s divorce law demanded evidence that one partneer had committed adultery. The rich had used private detectors and cameras, but of others divorce was impossible.

Question 10

The divorce reform
After the divorce reform act in 1969

Answer 10

couples could divorce if they had lived apart for two years, and both partners agreed to a divorce.
or if they lived apart for five years and one partner wanted the divorce.

Question 11

The divorce reform
After the reform act

Answer 11

That was a huge increase in the number of divorces and by the 1970s, nearly 10 in every 1000 marriages ended in divorce, this grew female independence.

Question 12

The legislation of abortion
The abortion process until 1967

Answer 12

Abortion was illegal except on strictly medical grounds. The way of terminating a pregnancy was to find a private clinic which many couldn’t afford. 100,000 to 200,000 abortions were performed each year, 35,000 women were admitted to hospital with complications as a result.

Question 13

Legislation of abortion
The abortion law reform association

Answer 13

The abortion law reform association has campaign for a reform in the law from 1945, arguing that legal obstacles to abortion should be removed to end problems of illegal abortions.

Question 14

The legislation of abortion
The society for the protection of the unborn child 1966

Answer 14

Was set up to oppose abortions and changing legislation, fearing any extension of abortion, beyond strict medical grounds would lead to abortions being demanded more regularly.

Question 15

The legislation of abortion
The Thalidomide disaster

Answer 15

The drug thalidomide was prescribed for pregnant women with morning sickness and was found to produce to formalities in children. This led to the sway of public opinion on abortion, many then favoured it.

Question 16

The legislation of abortion
The abortion act

Answer 16

The abortion act permitted the legal termination of a pregnancy within the first 28 weeks under medical supervision, and with the written consent of two doctors.

Question 17

The legislation of abortion
The abortion act aftermath

Answer 17

Pro-abortionist hoped that the availability of more effective contraceptives and better education would limit the need for abortion. The number of abortions increase from 4 per 100 live births to 17.6 per 100.

Question 18

The legislation of homosexual relations
Homosexual relations until 1960s

Answer 18

until 1960s, men could be imprisoned for two years for participating in homosexual acts. The conservatives had rejected the recommendation to discriminate homosexuality, and labour was divided on the issue.

Question 19

The legislation of homosexual relations
The 1967 sexual offences act

Answer 19

This didn’t legalise homosexual act, but it discriminated them where these three conditions were met. Both partners had to have consent both had to be over 21 and had to be in private.

Question 20

The legalisation of homosexual relations
The aftermath of the 1967 sexual offences act

Answer 20

The act was welcome to by men who had previously been afraid to declare their sexuality. However, the act was strictly interrupted in private, so did not mean the complete end of prosecutions for homosexual practices.

Question 21

What policies where made my private member bills

Answer 21

The death penalty -Sidney Silverman
Divorce act - Roy Jenkins
Abortion act - Roy Jenkins
Homosexuality act - Leo abse

Question 22

Educational reform
Tripartite system

Answer 22

The system proved to be socially divisive with the majority of grammar school places going to those from middle-class background.

Question 23

Educational reform
The development of comprehensive schools

Answer 23

The local educational authorities were responsible for schools in some areas like the Greater London, and they established comprehensive schools where every child would have the same opportunity.

Question 24

Educational reform
1965 Tony Crossland

Answer 24

He was a leading supporter of the comprehensive system and became the minister of education. He issued circular 10/65 to all local educational authorities, requesting them to convert to comprehensive schools.

Question 25

Educational reform
1970 and consequence of schools

Answer 25

Only eight authorities had failed to become comprehensive, and there were 1145, comprehensive schools catering for one and three of Allstate educated secondary school pupils.

Question 26

Educational reform
Were Comprehensive schools successful?

Answer 26

Wilson claimed that comprehensives meant “a grammar school education” for all, but many middle-class parents remained convinced some turned independent schools which meant that the idea of a truly comprehensive system was flawed.

Question 27

Educational reform
Robbins report and higher education

Answer 27

The report found that Britain lagged behind France, Germany, and United States in the provision of university places, and that too many students followed art related courses.

Question 28

Educational reform
Expanding higher education

Answer 28

Polytechnics replaced colleges of technology and focused on science. Nine colleges of advanced technology became full universities, and new universities were founded.

Question 29

Educational reform
Expansion of higher education, by 1968

Answer 29

There were 30 polytechnics and 56 universities, new institutions brought new courses, and it became possible to take a degree in town, planning in architecture.

Question 30

Educational reform
The expansion of high education and social class

Answer 30

New universities opened up high education for family who never attended university however, middle-class children still dominated the old universities so it was hard to persuade anyone of the parity of opportunity.

Question 31

Educational reform
The expansion of high education and social class

Answer 31

New universities and polytechnic opened high education for families who had never attended university however, middle-class children still dominated the old universities.

Question 32

Educational reform
Harold Wilson and the open university

Answer 32

He attempted by offering high-quality degree level learning in arts and science to people who have never had the opportunity to attend campus universities.

Question 33

Educational reform
March 1963, “university of the air”

Answer 33

In March 1963, a labour party study group proposed an experiment on radio and television to be called “university of the air”. Wilson appointed Jenny Lee to consider the project after his election success in 1964.

Question 34

Educational reform
September 1969, and open university

Answer 34

Open universities headquarters were established in Milton Keynes, there had been enough applications for the first students begin their studies in January 1971. it became a rapid success.

Question 35

Educational reform
The concept of the open university

Answer 35

The universe use radio and television in innovative form of distant learning. recruited, part-time students with totally different social profiles. It attracted, women and disadvantaged helped raise the esteem of those who had previously regarded themselves as educational failures.

Question 36

Educational reform
The 1980s and open universities

Answer 36

By 1980, The open university had 70,000 students, and was awarding more degrees in Oxford and Cambridge combined.