History GCSE (Britain) Liberal Reforms

• In 1906 local authories started providing free school meals.
• In 1908 a Children and Yound person act was introduced, known as the Children's Charter.
• If anyone neglected or treated children poorly they would get severe punishments.
• It was made illegal for children to sell cigarettes to children or send the begging.
• Juvenile courts were set up
• Children who broke the law went to borstals instead of prision. 

• In 1908 old people were given pensions. 
• It was only for the over 70's.
• They were given 5s a week.
• A married couple got 7s 6d a week. 

• In 1909 labour exchanges made to help people find work. 
• In 1911 National Insurance Act was passed.
• Part 1 gave people the right to free medical treatment (NHS) and sick pay.
• They got 10s a week for 26 weeks in return for a payment of 4d a week.
• Part 2 gave people the right to unemployment pay of 7s d a week for 15 weeks in return for a payment of 2 1/2d a week

• 1906 - the Trades Disputes Act rules that unions were not liable for damages because of strikes. 
• 1906 - the Workers Compensation Act granted compensation for injury at work. 
• 1907 - school medical inspections.
• 1908 - eight hour day for miners. 
• 1910- half day a week off for shop workers
• 1910 - a Merchant Shipping Act improved conditions for sailors.
• 1911 - Mps were paid which gave working men an opportunity to stand for election

• Seebohm Rowntree studies York in 1901 and found that 28% did not have the minimum to live on at some point in their life. 
• Two thirds of men that volunteered in the Boer war (1899) were unfit to join up. 
• Germany which had a good system of state welfare for workers was passing Britain as an industrial power
• Strikes and the growth of trade unionism meant that politicians were scared workers would turn to Communism or rebellion if living conditions did not improve.
• More working class voters were voting for the Labour Party because of it demands for welfare reform. 
• In 1910 the Liberal Party did not get a majority of seats, which led to a coalition with Labour Party MP's
• Many MP's wanted to 'wage war' on poverty, especially Lloyd George.

• Free school meals - 1914 150, 000 were getting one good meal a day - not compulsory 
• Pensions - Kept old people out of work houses - was refused to people who have never worked
• Labour exchanges - 1914, 1 million people employed through Labour exchanges - most jobs temporary; government didn't increase number of jobs. 
• National Insurance - Vital safety net to tide people over - Poor people had to pay contributions out of pay, dole and sickness pay limited time. not enough money most families need a £1 a week
• Free medical treatment - literally a life saver - only for wage earner, not for children or wife 

1909 budget - to pay for reforms Lloyd George raised duties on alcohol and tobacco, raised income tax by 16% and introduced a new 20% tax on profits from selling land.

Parliament Act 1911 - when the House of Lords refused to pass Lloyd George's budget, the House of Commons passed an Act stating that the House of Lords could not reject a bill that had been passed three times in the House of Commons. It also require a general election every five, not seven, years.

Lloyd George - Lloyd George became loved - old people cried when they got their pension and blessed 'Lloyd George' who gave it to them - and hated - workers who objected to paying.