Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress 1905–1909 facts for kids

The Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress 1905–1909 was a special group set up by the British government. Its main job was to look into the old Poor Law system and figure out how to make it better. This system was how the government tried to help people who were very poor or couldn't work.

The Commission worked for four years, from 1905 to 1909. They gathered a lot of information and ideas. In the end, they wrote two big reports that disagreed with each other. These were called the Majority Report and the Minority Report. Because the reports were so different, the government at the time, the Liberal Party, decided not to follow either of them exactly. Instead, they made their own changes, known as the Liberal reforms.

What Was the Royal Commission on Poor Laws?

A Royal Commission is a special group of people chosen by the government. Their job is to study an important issue and suggest changes. This particular Commission was created by the Conservative government just before they left power. Its leader was Lord George Hamilton.

Why Was the Commission Formed?

The main reason for setting up this Commission was to investigate the old Poor Law system. This system had been around for a long time, but many people felt it wasn't working well anymore. It was meant to help people in need, but it often made things harder for them. The government wanted to find out how to improve it or even replace it.

Who Was Part of the Commission?

The Commission included many different kinds of people. Some were "Poor Law guardians," who were in charge of local poor relief. Others were from groups like the Charity Organisation Society, which helped people in need. There were also members from local government groups. Two important social researchers, Charles Booth and Beatrice Webb, were also part of the team. They were known for studying poverty and social problems.

What Did the Commission Find?

After four years of hard work, the Commission produced two main reports. These reports had very different ideas about how to fix the Poor Law system.

• The Majority Report generally wanted to keep some parts of the old system but make it more efficient.
• The Minority Report, led by Beatrice Webb, wanted to get rid of the Poor Law system completely. They suggested creating new, separate services for things like health, education, and unemployment.

Even though the reports disagreed a lot, they did have some things in common. Both reports agreed that the Poor Law system could not continue as it was. They also thought that help for the poor should be more organised and fair across the country. Both reports also understood that sometimes people were poor not because of their own fault, but because of bigger problems in society.

What Happened After the Reports?

The two reports showed very different ways forward. This made it difficult for the government to choose one path. The Liberal Party, which was in power after the Commission finished its work, decided to create their own set of changes. These changes, called the Liberal reforms, brought in new ways to help people, like old-age pensions and national insurance. These reforms were a big step towards the modern welfare state in Britain.

See also

• Minority report (Poor Law)
• Majority report (Poor Law)