The importance of Booth, Rowntree and the Liberal social reforms

The importance of Booth, Rowntree and the Liberal social reforms

1. The action of Liberals

   • Came to power following the 1906 election
   • Lloyd-George made a strong speech promoting merits of the welfare-state
   • The rich opposed the ideas of higher taxes needed for the welfare-state
   • 1902- midwives required proper training and registration, benefitting mothers and babies and ensuring births would be supervised by skilled professionals
   • 1906- free school meals provided to children of the poor, school-age children and ensuring children are fitter, stronger and not malnourished
   • 1907- schools provided free medical checks by nurses and doctors, school-age children and ensuring illness was caught early
   • 1908- pensions for people over 70, the elderly and small income so they could retire
   • 1909- building regulations enforced, slum landlords targeted and building decent housing for the poor
   • 1911- National Insurance Act, working men were still paid if ill, the working man and ensuring men got an income if they were off work due to illness
   • 1918- day nurseries and clinics for the pregnant and visitors, women and children and ensuring women improved their health and working mothers could go to work, leaving their child in a safe environment

2. Booth and Rowntree

   • Slums and other poor, overcrowded housing were all still common in industrial towns in 1900
   • The poor worked long hours for low wages, people couldn't afford medical treatment and could barely feed their children
   • Booth's Report
     • 1889- 'Life and Labour of the People in London' showed 30% of Londoners were living in severe poverty, some wages were too low to support a family and it was sometimes impossible for people to find work
   • Rowntree's Report
     • Owned a factory in London and didn't believe the problem was as bad as in London
     • Did a survey of living conditions
     • 1901- 'Poverty, a Study of Town Life' revealed that 28% of people in York couldn't afford basic food and housing