Origins of a Welfare State?

Reform and Poor Law

• 1905: Royal Commission to examine Poor Law, published report in 1909.
  • Argued for individual causes of poverty, recommended less poor relief.
  • Minority report argued for structural causes of poverty, pushed for reform.
• Webb:
  • Should massively expand poor relief but deemed too costly and intrusive.
• Institutionalising the poor did not help poverty.
• Insurance scheme to ease unemployment deemed best.

Paying for Reform

• Lloyd-George
  • 1909: 'war budget' in a battle against poverty.
  • Indirect taxation expanded on alcohol, tobacco and petrol.
  • Expansion in spending (and taxation of rich) led to rejection of the budget by Lords in 1909.
  • Opposition:
    • Tories: Thought it cost too much, both in terms…