Why the Liberal Government created reforms to help children

• Children identified as one of the groups most affected by poverty


  Diseases such as rickets were common in children as they were malnourished
• Children were the future soldiers of the Empire


  Had to be looked after for national security
• Concern about efficiency of workers for industry

  To ensure Britain remained the 'workshop of the world' her workers would have to be healthy and strong
• Wanted to provide a legal basis for dealing with children


  If a child committed a crime they were dealt with in the same way as adults and tried in court as adults