Liberal Reforms

1
Liberal Reforms

• How effective were the Liberal Reforms, 1906-1914?

2
CHILDREN

• School Meals Act of 1906 by 1914 150,000 free
  school meals were served every day.
• Free school medical inspections in 1907 Free
  treatment provided after 1912.
• Childrens Charter of 1908 set up Child Care
  Committees to deal with the effects of poverty
  and neglect, special courts for young offenders,
  probation system set up, borstals (reforming
  houses) for young people established, made it
  illegal to sell tobacco, alcohol and fireworks to
  under 16s, working hours were limited and it
  become illegal for children to do certain jobs.

3
THE ELDERLY

• Old Age Pensions Act of 1908 gave the poorest
  people over 70 (those who earn less than 21 a
  year) a pension of 5s a week, did not rely upon
  contributions from the old themselves.

4
THE UNEMPLOYED

• Labour exchanges 1909 helped unemployed find
  good, permanent jobs. They would register and
  employers would notify of vacancies. By 1914 1
  million vacancies were filled every year by
  labour exchanges.
• Unemployment Insurance (National Insurance Act
  1911) covered men involved in seasonal
  employment e.g. building, ship building, and
  engineering. Contributions of 2.5d from workers
  and 2.5d from employers meant workers could claim
  7s a week for up to 15 wks when unemployed. To
  receive the money they HAD to register at a
  labour exchange.

5
THE POORLY PAID

• Trade Board Acts of 1909 Minimum rates of pay
  were established in small-scale industries not
  covered by the pervious Factory Acts.

6
THE SICK

• Health Insurance (National Insurance 1911) a
  compulsory scheme that covered all workers
  earning 160 or less a year. They paid 4d a
  week, employers 3d and the government 2d making a
  total of 9d a week (nearly 2 a year).
• Workers had a National Insurance card that was
  stamped weekly by employers.
• Gave workers free medical care from a doctor.
• When ill workers could claim 10s a week for 26
  wks. It also included maternity benefits of 30s
  on the birth of the baby.

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HOW EFFECTIVE?

• PRAISE
• Built the foundations of the welfare state.
• Most ambitious welfare reforms ever introduced.
• Some ideas such as unemployment benefit were the
  first of their kind in the world!

• CRITICISM
• Discouraged old people from saving for their
  future.
• Robbed the elderly of their independence by
  making them dependent upon the government
  handouts.
• Rich were annoyed that their taxes increased to
  fund pensions.
• Conservatives described it as a nanny state.
• Workers resented the deductions from their wages.
• Labour Party criticised the fact that workers had
  to fund their own reforms.
• Didnt provide help for widows.