Liberals wanted to help unemployed & those not insured against sickness.
1909 Winston Churchill pushes thro' Labour Exchange Act. To save unemployed people tramping from one factory to next looking for work, an 'Exchange' would be set up that advertised job vacancies in an area. {Nowadays called 'Job Centre"}
1911 National Insurance Act - to provide insurance against sickness & unemployment.
Workers,Employers & the state paid about 1p each week into an insurance fund.In return could claim 7 shillings (35p) for upto 15 weeks, couldn't work & but had paid into scheme.
Applied to all Male workers who earned < £3 per week. (most of working class). Workers paid 4d (2p) a week into scheme, the Employer 3d & the state 2d. Worker could claim 'Free' medical treatment & 10 shillings a week 'sick pay' for 26 weeks if unable to work.
A male workers wife would get 30 shillings (£1.50) for birth of baby.
The scheme benifitted poor but was opposed by Doctors, 'who were not paid fairly for their work'. NB didn't apply to women workers,domestic servents,wives or self-employed.
Extended to Women in 1920
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