Description: Segment 1 Chave, seated, speaks to the camera. He says how the Poor Law of 1834 had become outdated and defective - financial assistance for the poor was not equally distributed by the various Boards of Guardians appointed in different regions. For instance, some would help out the elderly while others wouldn't. Poor Law infirmaries and hospitals brought stigma to patients as to be admitted to the infirmary, in particular, meant to be classified as a pauper. In 1905, the Balfour Government set up the Royal Commission on the Poor Law and Relief of Distress, it was a commission with 18 distinguished members, the like of which had not been seen before in England. Portraits of Beatrice Webb and Sidney Webb are shown - they were a partnership which was to do much for the development of social policy, social enquiry, social action and social science. The Royal Commission initially agreed on one thing: to do away with the Boards of Guardians. Time start: 00:00:00:00 Time end: 00:05:08:17 Length: 00:05:08:17 Segment 2 Chave continues to describe the results of the Royal Commission. The Majority Report of the Commission proposed that the work previously done by the Boards of Guardians should be passed onto the local authorities who should set up Public Assistant Committees to administer public assistance to the needy. The Minority Report was more radical, suggesting the Poor Law be abolished entirely. They also suggested that a National Medical Service be set up. In 1909, Prime Minister Campbell-Bennerman read the two reports and was unable to make a decision as to which one to support. This lack of decision spanned 20 years with subsequent Prime Ministers also unable to choose between the two reports until finally the Majority Report was brought into action. Time start: 00:05:08:17 Time end: 00:09:28:17 Length: 00:04:20:00 Segment 3 Chave discusses old age pensions which were introduced in England in 1908. Although the yearly sum of -