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3.5 ANOVER SCANDAL, PROBLEMS WITH POOR LAW COMMISSION, POOR LAW BOARD.,…
3.5 ANOVER SCANDAL, PROBLEMS WITH POOR LAW COMMISSION, POOR LAW BOARD.
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In 1834 the Andover Union workhouse had been praised for being one of the best workhouses as it had the strictest dietary regulations, it was even praised in the annual Poor Law Commission reports.
In 1837 Colin M'Dougal and his wife were appointed as Master and Matron of the workhouse. As they were so confident they only had cursory inspections at the workhouse. However, MP for Finsbury eventually made a comment about the situation in Andover.
Henry Parker was ordered by the Poor Law Commissioners to investigate. He found that all the rumours were true and that there was a range of abuses.
- Sexual abuse to female paupers from M'Dougal and his son.
- Serving even less food than what was suggested in the lowest dietary. Which forced paupers to suck the bone marrow that was supposed to be crushed for fertiliser.
Parker struck back by writing a well written pamphlet explaining his position and even gained the support of Edwin Chadwick. There was also a full report critical of the PLC.
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POOR LAW BOARD (1847)
In 1847 the government replaced the Poor Law commision with the Poor Law board.
The Poor Law board was more linked to government . It aimed to overhaul the weaknesses of the PLC and be more linked to government.
The Poor Law board was made of one president and two secretaries, several cabinet members were ex-officio. The president was an Mp, so answerable to public opinion.
However, it was not completely changed as George Nichols one of the 3 heads of the PLC stayed to be one of the secretaries. In addition, many of the assistant commissioners stayed on.
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In 1852, the Poor Law Board made an attempt to incacerate all able-bodied paupers in workhouses with an order forbidding outdoor relief to the able-bodied.
However, many Guardians used a loophole of (sickness to family to try and get around this).
Cost focused guardians preferred giving Outdoor relief as in both Lancashire and London it was half the price to provide outdoor relief.
The superiority of outdoor relief was also illustrated in 1863 when the cotton mills in Lancashire failed so they needed short-term relief.
Public Works act 1863 allowed local authorities to borrow money.
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Poor Law Loans Act 1869 allowed Guardians to extend repayments for up to 30 years. This meant guardians could improve Parishes without adding much to the poor rate.
The Parliamentary Reform Act 1867, by extended the voting qualification to householders :"well off" working class men. This doubled the electorate from 1,000,000 men to 2,000,000 men.
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