Section 2: Chapter 6 Flashcards
Private Members’ Bills
Introduced to parliament by a member of House of Commons/ Lords who isn’t in the govt.
Educational Reform: COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS- Criticisms of Tripartite System (2)
Unfair: Anthony Crossland
Money: post war baby boom
Educational Reform: COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS- What did LEAs establish?
Responsible for schools in certain areas
Comprehensive schools (Circular 10/65) w. govt. funding
Educational Reform: COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS- success?
+1970: 1145 CS catering for 1/3 of all students
-Mergers caused disruption
-Middle class still unconvinced
Educational Reform: HIGHER EDUCATION- Robbins Committee
Britain was slipping behind other European countries regarding science and technology & universities.
Educational Reform: HIGHER EDUCATION- Labour Govt’s response to Robbins Report
Expanded higher education w. new unis & polytechnics built and tech/ science unis replacing arts unis
Educational Reform: HIGHER EDUCATION- Impact of Higher Education (3)
By 1968, 30 polytechnics & 56 unis
New courses e.g. town planning
Opened unis to families that had never been able to go
Educational Reform: OPEN UNIVERSITY- Wilson (2)
Wanted to be remembered for
Combined many enthusiasms
Educational Reform: OPEN UNIVERSITY- Minister who oversaw
Jennie Lee
Was her commitment to see it through
Educational Reform: OPEN UNIVERSITY- establishment? (2)
Milton Keynes in Sept 1969
1970, enough applications to open in Jan 1971
Educational Reform: OPEN UNIVERSITY- Success? (4)
Used innovative forms of distance learning
Reunited part time students w. totally different social profiles
Attracted mature, women, disadvantaged
By 1980, OU had 70,000 students & awarded more degrees than Oxford & Cambridge combined
Social Reforms: MURDER ACT 1965- Background (3)
Already been limited: 5 types of murder punishable by death (Homocide Act 1957)
Many anti-death penalty campaigns but many didn’t want it gone
Sidney Silverman backbench MP w. Jenkins allowing time to discuss it
Social Reforms: MURDER ACT 1965- Details (3)
Replaced death penalty w. mandatory sentence of imprisonment for life
Introduced as temporary when HofL tried to stop it (permanent in 1969)
Left 4 capital offences and was finally abolished in 1998
Social Reforms: MURDER ACT 1965- Impact (4)
Massive change to British legal system
Helped convict many dangerous and professional criminals
Didn’t significantly reduce number of murders/ violent crimes
No evidence it acted as deterrent/ no evidence it didn’t
Social Reforms: DIVORCE REFORM ACT 1969- Background (3)
1857 Matrimonial Causes Act- women had to prove adultery/ mainly for rich white men
1937- changed to allow grounds of insanity, drunkenness, desertion
Leo Abse tried to permit divorce after 7 years of separation provided basis for act
Social Reforms: DIVORCE REFORM ACT 1969- Details (2)
Added two grounds: lived apart for 2 years (one sided) or lived apart for 5 years (agreed)
White vs White: £800,000 originally then got £1.5 mill out of £4.5 mill
Social Reforms: DIVORCE REFORM ACT 1969- Impact (4)
Within two years, number of divorces doubled
1980: Average length of marriage regressed to 1820s
Still favoured men as they were breadwinners
Allowed women and ordinary people to divorce easier
Social Reforms: ABORTION ACT 1967- Background (4)
Illegal unless mother was at risk
Backstreet abortions 100,000 a year
Thalidomide crisis- abortions gave to those who took it
Brought in as PMB by Liberal David Steele MP
Social Reforms: DIVORCE REFORM ACT 1969- Details (2)
Approval of two doctors because of medical or psychological need
Must be carried out in a govt. approved hospital/ clinic
Social Reforms: DIVORCE REFORM ACT 1969- Impact (3)
Number of abortions rose though hard to know previous estimates
Didn’t lead to increase in promiscuity
35,000 to 141,000 between 1968-1975
Social Reforms: SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT 1967- Background (5)
No previous legislation
Wolfenden Report 1957 suggested decriminalisation & backed by Daily Mirror, Times etc
People figuring it can’t be ‘solved’ by prison
Homosexual Law Reform Society- campaigned to get report implemented
Leo Abse, Jenkins & Lord Arran
Social Reforms: SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT 1967- Details (3)
Age of consent: 21
2 consenting males
‘In private’ (up to interpretation)
Social Reforms: SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT- Impact (3)
Relief for homosexual males
Not end for prosecution
‘In private’ meant as no one else in building but not widely known
