Social Changes and PolicyDevelopment

• Homosexuality

  • Buggary Act 1533: unacceptable to be homosexual, cause for death
  • Sexual Offences Against the Persons Act 1967: shift towards homosexuality being acceptable due to decline in religious beliefs
  • Same Sex Couples Act 2013: normalisation of homosexuality, deserving of the same rights as heterosexual couples
  • change in policy to reflect the change in attitude and decline in religious beliefs
• Smoking

  • Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002: movement towards health protection with health warnings having to cover a certain percentage of the packaging
  • Health Act 2006: protection from second-hand smoke
  • Children and Families Act 2014: greater protection of children
  • changes to policy to reflect the change in attitude and scientific advancements
• Women's Rights

  • Equal Franchise Act 1928: gave women a greater voice as the number of women eligible to vote raised to 15 million
  • Equal Pay Act 1970: women recognised as equals to men in the workplace
  • Equality Act 2010: women recognised as legally equal to men
  • changes to policy to reflect changes in attitude