Effectiveness and Motives of Disraeli's Reforms

Effective

• Public Health Act remained in place until 1929
• Regulation of pollution (Pollution Act)
• Regulated food and drugs (Sale of Food and Drug Act)
• Regulation of public health
• Amended an unpopular Liberal Law (Licensing Act)
• Allowed for the demolition of slums and replace with modern housing (Artisans' Dwellings Act)

Limitations

• Not original-built on or amended Liberal reforms
• Licensing Act ultimately satisfied nobody
• Permissive legislation such as Artisans' Dwellings Act;Pollution Act; Sale of Food and Drugs Act
• Seen as an attack on private property such as Artisans' Dwellings Act
• Lack of analysis such as Sale of Food and Drugs Act

Effective

• Working day reduced to 10 hours
• Restrictions on child labour
• All workshops fewer than 50 people were brought under Government inspection

Limitations

• Didn't meet the 9 hours demanded by the Nine Hour Movement
• Simply amended an anomaly (Factory and Workshop Act)

Effective

• Legalized peaceful picketing
• Gave other legal recognitions to Trade Unions
• Employers and workmen were put on an equal footing

Limitations

• Simply removed an anomaly left by the Liberals (Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act)
• Thought to be advantageous to the Conservative Party in gaining Working Class support

Effective

• Helped poor parents with school fees
• Set up school attendance committees to encourage attendance
• Ensured children up to age 10 received and adequate education

Limitations

• Lack of compulsion
• Not intended for social mobility for Working Class
• Aim to improve attendance and funding of Church of England Schools

Effective

• Passed legislation for the painting of a line on the side of a ship to prevent over-loading

Limitations

• Only in 1890 did the Board of Trade begin to apply regulations as Plimsoll had intended. Until then, ship owners could paint a line where they saw fit
• Disraeli was influenced by the Ship Owning Interest in Parliament