Outdoor Labour Test Order facts for kids
The Outdoor Labour Test Order was an important rule made by the Poor Law Commission on April 13, 1842. This rule allowed local officials to give help to poor but able-bodied people outside of a workhouse. This type of help was called outdoor relief.
Before this order, the Commission had tried to make sure that poor people only received help inside a workhouse. This was known as indoor relief. However, this rule became very difficult to follow, especially when factories and other industries were not doing well. Many people lost their jobs and needed help. The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 had originally aimed to stop outdoor relief and only use workhouses. But the new order showed that sometimes, outdoor relief was still needed.
Contents
What Was the Poor Law Commission?
The Poor Law Commission was a group set up by the British government. Their job was to manage how poor people were helped. They were in charge of the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834. This act changed how poor people received help in England and Wales.
Why Was the Outdoor Labour Test Order Needed?
The original idea of the 1834 Poor Law Act was to make workhouses the main way to help the poor. People who needed help would have to go into a workhouse. There, they would work for their food and shelter.
However, this system faced problems. When many people lost their jobs, workhouses became too full. It was also very expensive to build and run enough workhouses for everyone. The Outdoor Labour Test Order was a way to offer help without sending everyone to a workhouse. It allowed people to stay in their homes and communities.
What Was a "Labour Test"?
A "labour test" meant that able-bodied people who received outdoor relief had to do some work. This work was usually hard manual labour. It showed that they were truly in need and willing to work. This was different from just giving them money or food without any work in return.
Challenges with Outdoor Relief Payments
Even with the Outdoor Labour Test Order, there were still challenges in how relief was given out. For example, in 1859, a visitor from the Poor Law Board reported a problem in Warrington.
The Warrington Problem
The office where poor people collected their outdoor relief was far from the town centre. Because of this, some elderly and sick people could not travel to get their money. Other poor people would collect the money for them. However, these helpers would sometimes take a small amount for their trouble.
The Poor Law Board suggested that Warrington move the office to the town centre. This would make it easier for everyone to collect their own money.
Warrington's Response
The officials in Warrington looked into the issue. They found that only thirteen people would benefit from a new office location. Because of this, the Warrington Board of Guardians decided not to change how they paid out relief. They wrote back to the Poor Law Board to explain their decision. This shows that local areas sometimes had different ideas about how to manage the Poor Laws.
See also
- Outdoor Relief Prohibitory Order
