The Liberal Reforms

Why did the liberals begin to think of national reformation?

Firstly, in the latter years of the 19th century and early 20th, two reports were published upon the health and well being of the people of Britain. Charles Booth’s Life and Labour of the People of London, he found that information supplied over 4000 people that just over 30% were living in poverty, lacking money for shelter, food and clothing. They were poor because the wages were simply too low. Next was Seebohm Rowntree, he built upon Booth’s investigation but in York, calculating wages to feed a family of five must be 21s and 8d. These investigations impacted the way of thinking.

The Royal commission of poor laws, set up by the conservatives in 1905, in order to advise the government what to do about the social reform, however because the commission could not agree, two reports were made, a majority report;
- poverty was moral
- poor law shouldn’t be changed

Minority report;
- origins of poverty were economic
- ministry of labour should be set up, reforms, such as labour exchanges
- Poor laws split into reform boards, education, elderly and the poor, health problems

Royal commission mixture of reports made it difficult, which also caused the ‘conservatives had no social reform package’ reason for defeat in 1906. However the commission also gave the poverty problem a high profile, which is where National Efficiency enters the equation. Liberals and Conservatives were concerned that the economy and workforce was not at its peak, which lead to the liberal package of reforms, fears were
- poverty and weakness, Charles Booth and Rowntree reports
- 2/3 turned down for Boer war volunteers due to bad fitness
- Length of time it took to beat the Boer farmers
- Speed that America and Germany was overtaking Britain economically and the naval and military growth with them as well.

Criticisms for the government who were ‘amateurs’ plus the ‘amateur generals’ within the army, and the conservative way of thinking who did not want to spend money, and those who wanted to make National Efficiency close to maximum believed state invention of reformation within many different area’s of society.
This is why the upcoming ‘New Liberalism’ liberals became more keen for social reform, and their ideas did not seem unfitting for the times. As mentioned before, new liberals such as Winston Churchill, Asquith and David Lloyd George believed in greater state intervention, increased government spending for social reform and increased graduation of taxes, a genuine passion to advance to countries to such standards as Germany. All of these saw the necessity for the Liberal Reform package.

The Poor Law failing was the final straw. It was for those with no other alternative and lead to the setting up of the workhouses. They were full of discipline to deter the able bodied men/women from laziness. However work houses rather than being a deterrent, ended with a huge population of the sick, elderly and homeless children. Something had to be done.

Overview of Reasons \
- New Liberalism \
- Poor Laws not being very good } National Efficiency
- Poverty Reports of Booth and Rowntree /
- Boer War embarrassment /
- Overtaking by other countries /
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WELFARE FOR CHILDREN
This was an uncontroversial change for the commons and the traditional liberals to face as children were seen as vulnerable members of the society and couldn’t be blamed for their problems, and the poverty they faced was seen as disgraceful.

The first reform would be the Provision of Meals Act, 1906 which the issue of undernourished children came to the government. The creation of LEA’s in 1902 made educational reform easier and so the liberals took on a Labour MP’s private members bill as a policy. This enabled LEA’s to provide free school meals, but only 1/3 of all LEA’s did.

In 1907, the Education Act saw compulsory medical examinations for children;
- three inspections for children during school life
- conducted in school by qualified doctor
- first inspection as soon as child joins the school

The Childrens Act 1908 introduced new measures such as juvenile courts and remand homes for children instead of prison, and severe penalties for child abuse/supplying alcohol/tobacco, plus a rate of £10 per month for poor families.
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Radical members such as Lloyd George were dissatisfied by the range of reforms so far, but in 1908, HCB was forced to resign through illness and Asquith became the new PM. LG became the Chancellor of the Exchequer with Winston Churchill on Board of Trade, who was also a radical since joining the party. The reform that was next to follow was old age pensions

Old age pensions act of 1908 was introduced as old people either had to save up money for retirement, which was near impossible due to the value of food compared to wages, or work in the workhouses under the Poor Law. Asquith had been working towards pensions, and now this passed down to LG. The provisions allocated were modest with 5 shillings per week for those over 70, regarding they had not been to prison in 10 years and their wage of old had been under 21 pounds. This was a huge success with just under 1 million applicants, although criticised for the high age limit.
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The next reforms concentrated on welfare and protection (unemployment and sickness) The first measure taken on was to be unemployment. Winston Churchill introduced the Labour Exchanges in 1909 so that the unemployed could find a job, basically a job centre. Lloyd George studied the German civil service and wanted a similar national insurance scheme for Britain, although the scheme was to be put off until 1911, so that both sickness and unemployment could be dealt with together, as sickness benefits had some problems with opposition

The opposition was from the Friendly societies and Industrial insurance companies that both provided policies for the poorer people of society to provide for funerals and injuries at work .Government intervention would have affected their business with the middle-class and some doctors in the British Medical Association saw this as “Lowering of professions”. It took months of negotiations and it is true that these companies worked well, possibly more so than the government replacement.

The National insurance of 1911 was split down the middle.

Health insurance saw
• A 30s maternity grant.
• A sickness benefit of 10s per week for up to 13 weeks, slightly less for women at 7s and 5s for a further 13 weeks.
• Free medical treatment under a panel doctor
• 5s a week for the disabled

Ages 16-60 were accepted, with 15 million in total. Non-working wives or children were not covered.

Unemployment insurance saw
• Weekly contributions of 2½d a week from workers/employers/government
• The insurance allowed up to 7s for 15 weeks.

2.25 million were covered, specifically for seasonal work such as ship building and other fluctuating trades.
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Other Liberal Social Reforms
• Trade Disputes Act revoked Taff Vale restrictions
• Workmen’s compensation act, for extra compensation for workers
• Merchant shipping act, regulations of importing food
• Coal miners act with a maximum eight hour day
• Trade board act, set minimum wage and day time, for sweated trades

SUMMARY
Why reform?
National Efficieny Problem (Boer War and the Poverty Reports) New Liberalism and the failure of the Poor Laws.

What Reform?
UNCONTROVERSIAL CHILDREN. 1906 Provision of meals, 1/3 Lea's gave food. 1907 education act, three inspections over school life. 1908 children welfare, remand courts and strict punishments for abuse.
PENSIONS, impossible for people to save, or work house. Pensions, 5s a week. 70 starting age, quite modest. Huge sucess, 1 million although criticised for high age.1908
UNEMPLOYMENT - WC labour exchanges 1909 (job centre)LG studied german national insurance scheme. NI put off until unemployment and health benefits could be tackled together, as 'friendly societies' needed to convinced, eventually were.
NATIONAL INSURANCE - Health, 30s maternity grant, 10s for 13 weeks and free doctor covering. 15 Million covered, but had to be working
Unemployment - only seasonal work, 2.25 mil covered, 7s for 15 weeks.
OTHER - Trade Dispute (ended taff vale), Trade Board (min wage and workers) Miners acts (min pay, day and safety) and Merch Ship Act (strict discipline for imports)