"Limited in impact and timid in design" how fair is this an assessment of the liberal welfare reforms, 1906-14?

This essay hasn't yet been marked by one of our teachers

You can view all our essays on Jurisprudence that have been Marked by Teachers

The first 200 words of this essay...

"Limited in impact and timid in design" how fair is this an assessment of the liberal welfare reforms, 1906-14?

Many question whether the Liberals had managed to create the foundations of a welfare state through their reforms. Definition of welfare state varies from historian to historian. Some see it as a loose collection of social, medical and educational services provided by the state. Others see it as a comprehensive attempt not only to provide welfare, but also to redistribute income thereby serving the cause of social justice. The fact is, taking either definition, the Liberals fell extremely short of the mark. They muddled through introducing changes which were modest by most standards

Despite the criticisms the reforms passed had allowed for a start to be made. The Education (provision of meals) Act 1906 made sure that children too hungry and generally debilitated would increase in health, and the amount of malnourished children minimised. However this act was not the work of any preconceived liberal policy. It resulted from a private member's bill introduced by a labour MP, which the government, lacking in any concrete proposals of its own took over and adopted as government policy. This act