Britain Essay 4

Britain lived by laissez-faire for years

View from upper class was that it was the persons fault if they were in poverty

Start of 20th century government began to see how the poor couldn't escape poverty with no help

Rowntree identified the roots of poverty - unemployment, old age and illness

The Education (Provision of Meals) Act was introduced in 1906 to provide one school meal a day during term time as government realised children not nourished. Children more looked after as may not be fed at home and helped them focus at school. Children not fed during school holidays and down to local governments to pay for meals which many did not want to do.

The Children Act was introduced in 1908 to introduce laws to protect children, shielded children from abuse and beglect and banned children under 16 from smoking, drinking and begging. Protected children from dangerous activities that harmed their health and protected their lives better. Many parents began to resent government for intervening in their children's lives and hard to enforce age limits as many lied.

The Old Age Pensions Act introduced in 1908 as little support for the elderly, provided single men and women over age of 70 up to 5 shillings a week and 7 shillings and 6 pence to married couples. Life expectancy became better as elderly had more money for adequate housing, food and essentials. In early 1900s 70 was very high life expectancy so many didn't live long enough to claim their pension, many grey too old in mid-50s to continue working hard physical labour so lived in extreme poverty until they reached 70.

The National Insurance Act Part 1 introduced in 1911 to stop sick falling into poverty, it provided all workers between 16 and 60 with wage less than £160 a year of income when out of work ill. Diseases and illnesses so common at start of 1900s and many people became ill then they didn't have to worry about food for themselves and family when they couldn't work. Money stopped after being absent from work for 26 weeks so people with long term illnesses could fall into poverty and didn't cover hospital treatment or workers wife or children 

The Labour Exchange Act 1909 introduced to help people escape unemployment, labour exchanges were places people could go to find a job. Unemployment main reason for poverty and the government were supporting people trying to find a job. Employers not required to notify exchanges of any vacancies so job opportunities went unnoticed.

The National Insurance Act Part 2 introduced in 1911 to help workers support themselves better, required contributions from workers, employers and the government for protectiong and payments for when workers found themselves unemployed. People that became suddenly oout of work them and their families could stop themselves falling into poverty until another job was found. Many workers annoyed at the money coming out of their wages and the payment for unemployed only lasted for 15 weeks so could still fall into extreme poverty if didn't find another job by then.