Scope and Contents

Letter from Ivor Guest [later Lord Ashby St Ledgers and Lord Wimborne (2nd baron, 1st viscount)] (Ashby St Ledgers, Rugby, [Warwickshire]) to WSC on: the commission on afforestation; the chance of WSC getting into the Cabinet as a result of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's illness; the Licensing Bill; the Coal Mines (Eight Hours) Bill; land valuation; the need for parliamentary consideration of the Poor Law and for old age pensions to form part of a general scheme for dealing with poverty.

Scope and Contents

Letter from Sidney Webb [later Lord Passfield] (41 Grosvenor Road, Westminster Embankment, [London]) to WSC enclosing his scheme of Poor Law reform [not present] for use in the consideration of the old age pension scheme, and evidence taken before the Poor Law Commission relating to unemployment.

Scope and Contents Letter from WSC ([Blenheim]) to Herbert Asquith [later Lord Oxford and Asquith] on: 5th Lord Lansdowne's rejection of the suggestion that the House of Lords will reject the Budget Bill; the formulation of legislation on unemployment and infirmity insurance and labour exchanges; the need for some form of state control of the amalgamations of railway companies; the impending large government measures on finance and unemployment; the report of the Afforestation Commission. Copy in the hand of...

Scope and Contents Letter from WSC (Board of Trade) to Herbert Asquith [later Lord Oxford and Asquith] agreeing that Harold Tennant should replace Sir Hudson Kearley at the Board of Trade and enclosing the report of the trade unionists who went to Germany to study unemployment insurance and labour exchanges. Advocates following the German example with a large programme of social legislation to underpin existing voluntary agencies; in particular: labour exchanges and unemployed insurance, infirmity insurance, a...

Scope and Contents

The care of the children, being chapter IV. of part I. of the minority report of the Poor Law Commission. Printed for the National Committee to Promote the Break-up of the Poor Law [4, 137-211, [3]p].

Scope and Contents

Birth and infancy, being chapter III. of part I. of the minority report of the Poor Law Commission. Printed for the National Committee to Promote the Break-up of the Poor Law [5, 85-135, [3]p].

Scope and Contents

The new charter of the poor, being an explanation of what is meant by the break-up of the Poor Law, and an outline of the proposals of the minority report of the Poor Law Commission. Printed for the National Committee to Promote the Break-up of the Poor Law [2, 23, [3]p].

Scope and Contents

Printed statement of aims and membership application form of the the National Committee to Promote the Break-up of the Poor Law.

Scope and Contents

Printed description of the research department and subscription application form of the National Committee to Promote the Break-up of the Poor Law.

Scope and Contents Letter from Arthur Witley (13 Westbourne Road, Huddersfield, [Yorkshire]) to WSC (House of Commons) regretting that WSC's recent letter in the Nation "betrays a tendency towards State Socialism". Gives his view of the distinction between a Radical and a Socialist and follows Henry George in advocating a system of taxation which distinguishes between value created by the community and that created by the individual, and the nationalisation of "all natural monopolies" such as transport...

Scope and Contents

Letter from Henry Massingham (The Nation, 14 Henrietta Street, Convent Garden, London) to WSC explaining his criticism of WSC's speech in Birmingham [on 13 Jan 1909] on Liberal policy and the House of Lords. Makes particular reference to Welsh Disestablishment and social reform.

Scope and Contents

Letter from Sydney Buxton [later Lord Buxton] (General Post Office) to WSC urging that some reference to unemployment insurance should be made in the King's speech.

Scope and Contents

Letter from Robert Chalmers [Assistant Secretary at the Treasury] (19 Earl's Terrace, Kensington, [London]) to WSC answering WSC's queries about the taxation of agricultural land, the qualification for old age pensions of those in receipt of poor relief, and rate relief.

Scope and Contents

Part of a speech to a committee of the House of Commons on unemployment insurance and government meausures to encourage agriculture. Typescript annotated by WSC.

Scope and Contents

Printed circular on the administration of out-door relief from the secretary of the Local Government Board to Boards of Guardians. 8p.

Scope and Contents

"The out of work and old age pensions considered. A simple solution." Manuscript copy of a pamphlet.

Scope and Contents

Printed circular from the majority of the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress to parliamentary candidates criticising the proposals for the break-up of the Poor Law made by the minority of the Commission.

Scope and Contents

Letter from George Barnes (House of Commons) to WSC asking him to use his influence to get a day set apart for the introduction of the Unemployment Insurance Bill.

Scope and Contents

Letter from Samuel Smethurst, president of the National Federation of Building Trades Employers of Great Britain and Ireland (Koh-i-noor House, Kingsway, London) to WSC (Home Office) complaining on the heavy financial burden imposed on the building industry by unnecessary claims under the Workmen's Compensation Act and expressing the wish that similar abuses should be guarded against under the proposed scheme of unemployment insurance. Signed typescript. Sent with CHAR 2/46/56.

Scope and Contents

Letter from C P Scott (The Firs, Fallowfield, Manchester) to WSC asserting that only if social reform were financed from taxation would people appreciate its true cost.

Scope and Contents

Letter from Robert Harcourt (House of Commons) to WSC suggesting that Sir Robert Price present the Minority Report on the Poor Law as a private member's bill. Annotated that WSC thinks a debate on the report could be a good thing.

Scope and Contents

6 Jan 1910 15 Jan 1910 Cuttings from the Dundee Advertiser [Angus, Scotland]: remarks and speeches by WSC in Dundee [Angus, Scotland] on women's suffrage and old age pensions. With covering note. 8 pieces.

Scope and Contents

Letter from William Royle (Elmwood, Rusholme, [Manchester]) to WSC on the satisfaction of WSC's friends in the Manchester area over his appointment as Home Secretary. Hopes WSC will still be able to pursue the schemes for invalidity and unemployment insurance.

Scope and Contents

Letter from Robert Harcourt (Malwood, Lyndhurst, [Hampshire]) to WSC congratulating him on his appointment [as Home Secretary] but adding that he could have produced a "Poor Law Revolution" had he stayed at the Board of Trade. Thanks him for helping with his campaign in Arbroath [Forfarshire, Scotland].

Scope and Contents Letter from 2nd Lord Hamilton of Dalzell to WSC regretting WSC's move from the Board of Trade but expressing pleasure at his promotion [to the office of Home Secretary]. Hamilton has found it interesting to represent the Board of Trade in the House of Commons and is particularly proud of helping to pass the Trade Boards and Labour Exchanges Bills. Refers to his grandfather's involvement in the foundation of Robert Owen's Orbiston Community near Glasgow [Scotland] [in 1825] and sends a book...