1. Britain

2. Liberal Social reforms
Impact of the
Liberal Social reforms

3. Liberal Social Reforms
LEARNING INTENTIONS
Explain the various social reforms introduced by the Liberal government
These changes helped groups including:
Elderly
Young people
The sick
Unemployed
Workers

4. Liberal Social Reforms
Before the twentieth century the British government did very little to help poor or other vulnerable people.
Society was run based on ‘laissez faire’, the idea that problems would fix themselves, and it was not the government’s job to interfere in people’s lives.

5. Liberal Social Reforms
This meant that the poor had to rely on charity, or the hated and feared Poor House.
The Poor House was a place that the poorest people (of all ages) would go to work and then get the barest of support e.g. shelter, food, etc.

6. Liberal Social Reforms
However by the late-1800s and early-1900s, social attitudes began to change, meaning that the government came under pressure to help various groups.
There are various reasons for this, including political advantage and the effects of changing politics.

7. Liberal Social Reforms
The Liberal Governments are most remembered for the various social changes they introduced.
These included laws to help: the elderly, young people, the sick, workers and the unemployed too.

8. The
elderly

9. Liberal Social Reforms
Problems facing the elderly
Many old people were so poor they could not save for their retirement.
This meant that some had to ‘work till they dropped’ or lived an extremely poor final few years, relying on charity or worse.

10. Liberal Social Reforms
Old Age Pensions
David Lloyd George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, decided that the best way to fix these problems was by introducing Old Age Pensions.
In 1908, the OId Age Pensions Act introduced pensions. By 1914 there were 970,000 people receiving the benefit.

11. Liberal Social Reforms
Old Age Pensions
Old Age Pensions gave people over 70 a weekly income
This was between one shilling (5 pence) and five shillings (25 pence). Married couples received seven shillings and six pence (37 pence).
Pensioners with an income over 60 pence got no pension.

12. Liberal Social Reforms
Pension problems
Pensions were available at 70 but in 1911 the average man lived to c.49 and woman until c.50.
A poverty study said that a single pensioner needed an income of 35 pence each week but the pension was only worth up to 25 pence.

13. Liberal Social Reforms
Pension problems
Another major complaint about pensions was that not everyone could claim them.
Groups excluded included people who had been in prison in the previous two years or pensioners who had failed to work regularly.

14. Young
people

15. Liberal Social Reforms
Problems facing young people
Children faced many problems in the early 1900s.
These included health issues caused by poverty, a difficulty accessing education and other issues such as being forced to work in dangerous conditions.

16. Liberal Social Reforms
Schools meals
In 1906, newly elected Labour MPs began pushing for the government to introduce free school meals. They argued that as the government had made school attendance compulsory, they should ensure children were well fed too.

17. Liberal Social Reforms
Schools Meals Act
The Liberal Government introduced the Provision of School Meals Act in 1906.
This law let councils raise local taxes to pay for school meals, if they chose to do so. Only poor children would get free school meals.

18. Liberal Social Reforms
School meal problems
The 1906 law only gave councils the option to introduce school meals; most chose not do so.
In 1911 less than one third of councils had introduced school meals. In 1914 the government made the law compulsory and agreed to pay some of the costs.

19. Liberal Social Reforms
School meal problems
Another problem was that children receiving these meals still went hungry at weekends and during school holidays.
Researchers found that children’s weight fell and development slowed during holiday periods.

20. Liberal Social Reforms
Checking children's health
Before 1907, inspectors would visit some schools to perform at least three inspections, including checking on cleanliness and for eye problems.
But this did not happen for each child – or lead to medical treatment if needed.

21. Liberal Social Reforms
Medical inspections
In 1907 the Liberals introduced compulsory medical inspections for school children.
This meant that every school child would be checked at least three times during their school life to identify health problems the child had.

22. Liberal Social Reforms
Medical problems
The 1907 law meant children were inspected for health problems – but poor children did not actually get treatment for any problems identified.
In 1912 free basic medical treatment for school children was offered, helping fix some health problems.

23. Liberal Social Reforms
The Children’s Charter
Victorian children had very little protection from problems such as abuse, poverty or dangerous work.
The 1908 Children’s Act aimed to change this by having a set of rules designed to protect children, especially the very poorest.

24. Liberal Social Reforms
The Children’s Charter
The Charter introduced a minimum age for people to drink alcohol and smoke (16).
Changes were also made to young people accused of committing crimes. This included setting up juvenile courts and also bortsals instead of prison.

25. Liberal Social Reforms
Charter problems
The bill did include many real improvements for children. However not all parts of the law were introduced in 1908, meaning it did not help as many children as possible.
Also the range of rules meant it was difficult to fully enforce e.g. drinking, smoking.

26. Liberal Social Reforms
School scholarships
In 1907 the government spent more money on scholarships to attend secondary schools.
Poor children who passed an exam had their school fees paid for them. 25% of school places were reserved for these scholarships.

27. Liberal Social Reforms
School scholarships
This policy did offer a help to poor students who passed the exam. However it was of little help to most poor students.
Also some poor families needed their children to work so could not afford to let them stay on at school.

28. The
sick

29. Liberal Social Reforms
Problems facing the sick
In 1911 there was no NHS. Someone who was sick needed to pay for treatment themselves (which few could afford) or rely on charity.
Illness meant real financial problems as some people could not work at this time.

30. Liberal Social Reforms
National Insurance Act
The National Insurance Act 1911 was based on Lloyd George’s experiences of a similar scheme in Germany.
The law was in two parts, each section helping the sick, workers and the unemployed in different ways.

31. Liberal Social Reforms
Part 1 - Health
Part 1 of the National Insurance Act created a ‘sick pay’ scheme.
Workers paid 4 pence per week when working. If a worker was too sick to work they were paid 50 pence per week for 13 weeks, then 25 pence for the next 13 weeks.

32. Liberal Social Reforms
Part 1 - Health
People receiving sick pay were also eligible for basic healthcare treatment too.
This allowed them to see a doctor and be treated for illnesses such as tuberculosis.

33. Liberal Social Reforms
Part 1 - Criticisms
Sick pay was only paid for 26 weeks (reduced after 13 weeks). Workers with a major illness still faced poverty.
Women also received less – 35 pence maximum. This was a huge problem for families with women as the major or only earner.

34. The
unemployed

35. Liberal Social Reforms
Part 2 - Unemployment
Part 2 of the National Insurance Act created unemployment insurance.
Workers paid 2.5 pence per week but then received 7 shillings (35p) per week (for 15 weeks per year) if they lost their job.

36. Liberal Social Reforms
Part 2 - Criticisms
Unlike Part 1, Part 2 of the Act only covered some workers, such as those in construction, shipbuilding and engineering. This meant that most workers – and few women - were not covered.
Also the cover only lasted for 15 weeks, after which time a worker got nothing.

37. Liberal Social Reforms
Labour Exchanges
In 1909 the government introduced Labour Exchanges which advertised jobs, to stop people have to walk around workplaces looking for a job.
By 1914, around 3000 people were getting a job each day through the Exchanges.

38. Liberal Social Reforms
Labour Exchanges
Many people opposed the Exchanges, including trade unions who believed they would lead to lower wages by attracting workers from across the country.
Only around 25% of people found work at Labour Exchanges.

39. The
workers

40. Liberal Social Reforms
Problems facing workers
Working conditions in the early-1900s were very poor.
Workers were expected to labour for long hours and there were numerous health and safety problems in different jobs.

41. Liberal Social Reforms
Working hours
Various rules were brought in to improve working conditions.
In 1908 a maximum working day of eight hours was introduced for miners. This was important in helping reduce the accidents that were associated with longer working hours.

42. Liberal Social Reforms
Working hours
In 1911 the Shops Act limited working hours (60 maximum) for assistants and also guaranteed them a half day off each week.
This was important as it was in workplaces that had ignored previous voluntary measures to limit working hours.

43. Liberal Social Reforms
Working hours
Most workers were not covered by these laws, so did not benefit from any reduction in their hours.
In addition even workers who did benefit (such as the sweated trades) still faced long hours in difficult working conditions.

44. Liberal Social Reforms
Low wages
The ‘sweated trades’ such as tailoring and lace making were very difficult. Workers faced low wages and harsh working conditions.
The 1909 Trade Boards Act tried to set minimum wages these jobs; 200,000 workers were covered by this.

45. Liberal Social Reforms
Low wages
As with working hours, most workers were not covered by these laws, so did not benefit from any minimum income.
Even those in the sweated trades saw little benefit. It took up to nine months to implement minimum wages, and they were often low.

46. Liberal Social Reforms
Workplace safety
People faced unsafe working conditions and got little help if they were injured at work.
The 1906 Workmen’s Compensation Act let 6 million more workers claim for workplace injuries and diseases. This encouraged employers to improve safety.

47. Liberal Social Reforms
Workplace safety
Although workers were eligible for compensation, many could not afford to go to court to get this money, limiting its impact.
Members of trade unions could get help but not all workers were members, or indeed allowed to be.