What measures did the Liberals introduce?

Group How helped Measures taken by Liberals to tackle problem Limitations of the
before LR reforms
No real system:  The liberals began their programme of reforms almost as soon as they came to power.  It was not compulsory so
 Some charities  In 1906, the Schools Meals Act was passed which allowed (but did not force) local authorities to provide free only a half of Britain’s Local
helped poor school meals. authorities actually set up a
families with  In 1914, 14 million meals were served up, most of which were free. meals service.
children.
 Orphans
looked after in  Attention then turned to medical care. Many parents were not able to afford proper treatment.  But it was left to local
workhouses.
 Following the 1907 Medical Inspections Act, every local education authority had to set up a school medical service. authorities to make these
 The service provided regular medical checks, and from 1912 this was extended to provide treatment in school measures work.
Children

clinics as well.

 The 1908 Children and Young Persons Act introduced a set of regulations that became known as the Children's
Charter.
 This act gave children special status as protected persons, and imposed severe punishments for neglecting or
treating children cruelly.
 The Act made it illegal to insure a child’s life because in the past, insurance companies had paid out money to
parents on the death of their young children, and the circumstances could sometimes be suspicious.
 It was made illegal to sell cigarettes to children or send them out begging.
 Separate juvenile courts were set up, which sent children convicted of a crime to borstals, instead of prisons with
adults.
 Charites  Pensions could be refused
 Family  David Lloyd George insisted on raising taxes on the well-off to pay for old-age pensions. to those who had not
 The  Lloyd George's Old Age Pensions Act, introduced in 1908, provided those above the age of 70 and with no other worked to the best of their
workhouse income with 1 - 5-shillings per week. Married couples would receive 7s 6d. Old people cried as they collected their abilities during their
pensions, and said: 'God bless Lloyd George’. working life.
The Old

 The effect on elderly people was enormous. In the past, many old people had been dependent on poor relief or
outdoor relief (handouts of food, clothing or small amounts of cash). However, this act made them independent
for the rest of their lives. In the first year, some 650,000 people collected their pensions. The number of people
claiming outdoor relief fell by over 80,000.
 As well as helping thousands of old people, the Act established new and important principles.
 First, it was non-contributory. In other words, people received it without having paid anything towards a fund
pension.
 Second, poverty was being tackled by direct funding from the government, rather than local rates.