The Liberal Government's Social Reforms 1906-1914

What did the Liberal Government's Social Reforms from 1906-1914 mark for the state of Liberalism as an ideology?

It showed an abandonment of laissez-faire approach and the big influence of modern liberalism as well as a change in how reforms can be funded (tax)

Main causes for the Liberal Government's Social Reforms 1906-1914:

The Boer War (1899), poverty investigations, national efficiency, modern liberalism growing in response to Labour (political pressure)

Why did the Liberal Govt use taxation as opposed to borrowing to fund their social reforms?

The arms race w/ Germany consumed most government expenditure and the Boer War had increased inflation

Education Reforms: School Feeding Act 1906

A Labour backbench proposal, allows school boards to give free school meals-- this was permissive

Were FSMs compulsory?

NO-- permissive, only 50% of LEAs offering them by 1913

By 1914 how many free school meals were there?

14 million

By 1912 how much of the cost of free school meals was taken on by the government?

1/2

Education Reform: Education Act 1907

Came from a parliamentary enquiry into health of Boer volunteers, the act sets up the School Medical Service and makes it compulsory for local educational authorities to conduct medical checks on children-- this was often cursory and didn't result in actual cures (no money)

By 1914 what proportion of LEAs provided medical inspection, what proportion provided some free medical treatment?

3/4, 2/3

Trade Union Reforms: Trade Disputes Act 1906

Reverses the outcome of Taff Vale-- trade unions have a position of civil immunity

Trade Union Reforms: Trade Union Act 1913

Reverses the outcome of the Osbourne Case in 1909 which stopped trade unions from being able to pay funds to Labour

Trade Union Reforms: Payment of MPs Act 1911

Introduces an MP salary of £400-- allows working class MPs

Children Reforms:

Made child neglect illegal, sets up young offender prisons, illegal to sell alcohol and cigarettes to children

Elderly Reforms: Old Age Pensions Act 1908

A non-contributory scheme which paid pensions (under subsistence level) after you become too old to work- attempts to eliminate old age as a cause of poverty

How much was pensions for a single person and how much for a couple?

Provides a pension of 5 shillings a week max for a single elderly person, 7shillings max for a elderly couple

How old and how poor did you have to be to receive pensions?

Over 70 on an annual income under £31

You had to earn under £31 annually to receive elderly pension, how much was living wage in 1908?

£50 annually

How were pensions originally based on 'good character'?

You couldn't receive it if you had a criminal record, no poor law relief in the past and you had to have had regular work-- but the government gave up on this after a while

By 1915, how many pensioners were there?

1 million

In 1901 many recipients of private pensions were there?

25,000

How much did Asquith predict pensions would cost? How much did it cost?

£1.2 million, it costed £12 million by 1912

How many people came OFF the poor law due to pensions?

122,000

How many elderly people remained on poor law after pensions?

300,000

What types of industry and worker was covered by unemployment insurance?

Insured trades-- that suffered from cyclical and seasonal unemployment e.g shipping

Healthcare Reform: National Insurance Act 1911 Part One

Established a COMPULSORY scheme where employers, workers and the government contribute so that the worker can receive financial support while he's unable to work due to illness- NOT a healthcare system

How much was a woman's maternity grant under the NI Act and who could receive it?

30 shilling maternity grant-- married AND unmarried women could receive it

Under the 1911 NI Act, how much do employers, workers and the government contribute to sickness benefit

Employees paid 3 pennies a week, workers paid 4 pennies a week, the government paid 2 pennies a week

How much did you have to earn to benefit from National Insurance Pt 1 (health)?

Under £160 a year earnings

How many employers were covered by National Insurance Pt 1 (health)?

13 million-- more than for unemployment

Unemployment Reforms: National Insurance Act 1911 Part Two

A compulsory scheme where the employer, worker and government contribute to pay for benefits during periods of unemployment

How much did the employer, workers and the government contribute to 'the pot' for unemployment benefits under the National Insurance Act 1911

They all contributed the same: 2 1/2 pennies a week

How much was unemployment benefit and for how long?

7 shillings a week for a maximum of 15 weeks

How many workers were covered by the NI unemployment scheme?

2.25 million-- initially only workers facing cyclical or seasonal unemployment but it expanded

Working Class Reforms: 1909 Churchill Trade Boards

Churchill sets up trade boards in four industries considered 'sweated trades' (not unionised)-- has representatives of the employer, worker and state and mainly focus on setting minimum wages and inspecting conditions

What is meant by sweated trades?

No unions, payed per piece, low wages, unskilled labour

What did the employers in trade boards often do instead of agreeing to minimum wages?

Introduced machinery

Which key employer of women was excluded from the policy of trade boards?

Domestic service-- although over 40% of women were employed by it

How many trades are covered by Trade Boards by 1913?

6 trades, coal miners, domestic service (comprised mainly of women)-- the SWEATED TRADES mainly

Working Class Reforms: 1908 and 1912 Coal Mines Acts

Fixes the working day length at 8hrs for miners and improved safety regulations

What fraction of people who engaged with labour exchanges found work?

1/4

By 1914, how many workers were signed up to the labour exchanges?

2 million

How many jobs per day were being found through the labour exchanges?

3,000

Post-Reforms: The State of Housing

Overcrowded, unsanitary-- e.g Crown Court in London deemed unfit for human habitation in 1911

Post-Reforms: Biometric Analysis-- Between 1860 and 1914 how much did mortality rates of children and teenagers reduce?

50%

Post-Reforms: How much did white collar work increase?

200% (not necessarily linked to social reforms?)

Was the poor law abolished as part of social reform from 1906-1914?

No-- limitation

In 1901, what fraction of women were in work?

Only 1/3

Which Act est. Labour Exchanges?

1909 Labour Exchanges Act