LIBERAL WELFARE REFORMS

Motivation New Liberalism Booth and Rowntree National Efficiency Continuing with Conservative reforms Threat from new Labour Party Pressure from Trade Unions and Socialist groups

The Young School Meals Act (1906) – introduced a Labour initiative, allowed local authorities to arrange for school meals School Medical Inspections (1907) – sneaked into a more general administrative Act. Children’s Charter (1908) – forbade child begging, children in pubs or the sale of alcohol/tobacco to children under 16

The Old The Old Age Pensions Act 1909 – pensions of 5s. Per week to persons over 70 years old (7s.6d. To married couples) The People’s Budget – supposed to raise £16m for defence and old age pensions. Budget increased income tax, death duties, licensing, tobacco and spirit duties; new taxes on cars, petrol and land. Rejected in Nov 09 but passed the following April.

The Employed Trade Disputes Act 1906 – reversed the Taff Vale Judgement Workmen’s Compensation Act 1906 – made compensation payable for accidents arising out of the workman’s employment Coal Mines Act 1909 – limited the working day of coalminers to 8 hours Trade Boards Act 1909 – fixed minimum wage for sweated trades

cont National Insurance Act 1911 Shops Act 1911 – gave shop workers guaranteed time off work Minimum Wage for miners – 1912

The Sick and Unemployed Labour Exchanges – 1908 National Insurance Act 1911 – Part I: Sickness Benefit Employees contributed 4d a week, employers contributed 3d a week and the State contributed 2d a week (‘9d for 4d’). Benefits include free medical treatment, maternity benefit and sick pay for up to 26 weeks

cont Part II: Unemployment Benefit Employees contributed 2.5d per week, employers contributed 2.5d per week the State contributed 1 2/3d per week. Benefits included 7s per week for up to 15 weeks paid through the Labour Exchanges

The Parliament Act 1911 Came about after the People’s Budget and Constitutional Crisis Reduced the powers of the House of Lords – stall Bills Reduced the life of Parliament to 5 years Gave MPs a wage – set at £400 pa

General Success State became involved in the regulation of life for the young – children better fed, healthier and better educated OAPs were financed from general tax’ Pensions were administered by the Post Office removing the shame of the Poor Law Unemployment benefits were administered by the Labour Exchanges

General Criticisms Local Authorities did not have to provide school meals Medical inspections for children merely identified problems – not a solution OAPs were limited to the over 70s Health Insurance only covered the worker, not the family Labour Exchanges were voluntary Unemployment Benefit was for a limited number of industries

Historians’ Views Cross and Williams are of the view that the Liberal Reforms were successful and “laid the foundations of the future Welfare State” C.Cross Evans and Hay think the reforms were more limited: “many participants in the creation of the Liberal reforms had no thought of creating a ‘Welfare State’ of the type which developed after 1945” J.R. Hay