How effective were the Liberal reforms?Welfare State?

Review of the Reforms The reforms EASED the problem of poverty

for the young, sick, unemployed and the old. DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF

POVERTY! They also attempted to improve the treatment

of workers

What did they do which was successful? It can be argued that the reforms were

successful as they could have been given the SCALE OF THE PROBLEM when the liberals came to power

The Liberals were also distracted by the increasing threat of Germany and the expense of preparing for war.

Also the Conservative dominated House of Lords regularly opposed liberal proposals

The Liberal reforms marked a transition point between the old laissez-faire attitudes and the Welfare State.

The Liberal years of 1906-1914 laid the foundations of a Welfare State.

Winston Churchill “If we see a drowning man we do not drag him to the shore. Instead, we provide help to allow him to swim ashore”

Basically means help them so they can help themselves.

The Elderly Guaranteed an income for those to old too work. The

liberals hailed pensions as a success. In Theory was a very good idea however problems in

reality Old-Age Pensions came nowhere near meeting the basic

needs of the elderly. Level of Benefits set too low Few of the genuinely poor would live till 70. Too many qualification rules DID NOT SOLVE POVERTY but made life slightly

better

The Young School Meals – 1906. Children too hungry and weak

to learn. Free School meals- One decent meal a day for

children paid by local tax. 14 million school meals provided by 1914 Problems NOT compulsory until 1914 By 1914 only ½ the education authorities in England

and Wales provided the service

Medical Inspections Education Act 1907 – 2 parts (A) Compulsory medical inspections at school. (B) Free Medical Treatment (not compulsory) Drawback of part B therefore it was largely ignored

by education authorities. Made compulsory in 1912 and provided grants.

School clinics began to get set up. Did little to solve any problems until 1912.

Children’s Charter Victorian Britain was a dangerous place for children.

Hazardous work, abused or neglected at home. Least able social group to protect themselves from

poverty. 1908 children’s charter designed to protect children

from abuse and neglect. Not Voluntary, marked the beginning of major

intervention in the lives of people by the government.