1906 to 1914 Liberal Reforms - Plan. What the Did and Did Not Do.

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‘Between 1906 and 1914 the real cause of poverty were tackled successfully by government action’. To what extent would you agree with this statement? PLAN • OLD, 1908 Pension Act up to 5 shillings a week for those over 70. 37.5p a week for married couples. By 1915 nearly 1 million were receiving it. HOWEVER not many people in those days lived to 70, it was not much and could be removed in ‘undeserving’ cases. • YOUNG, 1906 Free School Meals: Free school meals given to children and studies showed that during the holidays children’s health declined rapidly showing just how important these free means were to children’s health. However, up until 1914 it was up to the local authorities to provide this kind of care and many didn’t do that leaving lots of children malnourished. 1907 School Medical Inspections: Doctors and nurses were sent to school to inspect children and identify a health problem if one. However, up until 1912 there was still a cost for the medicine. 1907 Education Act: Poor children were given a chance to go to private school through exam. However, there was still a class-split. The higher classes didn’t need an exam to enter, yet the poorer ones did. 1908 Children’s Act (Charter): Children were protected from being abused by their parents. Houses were inspected. Those under 14 not sent to adult prisons. Juvenile prisons made. Pubs were out of bounds for those under 14 and those who were under 16 were not allowed to be sold alcohol or cigarettes. However, age limits on the ‘social evils’ of smoking and drinking had little success. • SICK, at the time: no national health service and the poor could not afford medical help. National Insurance Act 1911: gave some medical benefits. Each worked contributed 4 pence a week, employers contributed 3 pence a week and the government gave 2 pence a week to go to the medical help each worker received if
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