1. How effective were the Liberal reforms? Welfare State?

2. Review of the Reforms  The reforms EASED the problem of poverty for the young, sick, unemployed and the old.  DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF POVERTY!  They also attempted to improve the treatment of workers

3. What did they do which was successful?  It can be argued that the reforms were successful as they could have been given the SCALE OF THE PROBLEM when the liberals came to power  The Liberals were also distracted by the increasing threat of Germany and the expense of preparing for war.  Also the Conservative dominated House of Lords regularly opposed liberal proposals

4.  The Liberal reforms marked a transition point between the old laissez-faire attitudes and the Welfare State.  The Liberal years of 1906-1914 laid the foundations of a Welfare State.  Winston Churchill “If we see a drowning man we do not drag him to the shore. Instead, we provide help to allow him to swim ashore”  Basically means help them so they can help themselves.

5. The Elderly  Guaranteed an income for those to old too work. The liberals hailed pensions as a success.  In Theory was a very good idea however problems in reality  Old-Age Pensions came nowhere near meeting the basic needs of the elderly.  Level of Benefits set too low  Few of the genuinely poor would live till 70.  Too many qualification rules  DID NOT SOLVE POVERTY but made life slightly better

6. The Young  School Meals – 1906. Children too hungry and weak to learn.  Free School meals- One decent meal a day for children paid by local tax.  14 million school meals provided by 1914  Problems  NOT compulsory until 1914  By 1914 only ½ the education authorities in England and Wales provided the service

7. Medical Inspections  Education Act 1907 – 2 parts  (A) Compulsory medical inspections at school.  (B) Free Medical Treatment (not compulsory)  Drawback of part B therefore it was largely ignored by education authorities.  Made compulsory in 1912 and provided grants. School clinics began to get set up.  Did little to solve any problems until 1912.

8. Children’s Charter  Victorian Britain was a dangerous place for children. Hazardous work, abused or neglected at home.  Least able social group to protect themselves from poverty.  1908 children’s charter designed to protect children from abuse and neglect.  Not Voluntary, marked the beginning of major intervention in the lives of people by the government.