KQ2 - Life during the depression

• Effect of the depression was the rise in unemployment and poverty
• 1933 world unemployment of 30 million
• 1938 unemployment rate in each of the four heavy industries doubled from what it was in other types of employment
• Post war census returns 1921 said around 54% of males in Wales were employed or dependent upon some industries
• Wales was bound to suffer in the depression
• Conservatives created policy of reducing public spending
• Special Areas Act 1934


  1. Government commissioner to oversee each of the 4 distressed areas

  2. Local Steel works closure, Doulais 1936

  3. £1 million was used to set up factories

  4. Plans to create a 'trading estate'

  5. Treforest was the largest area
• Government tried to cut costs: targeted benefits to the unemployed
• Dole


  • Usual rate: 15s (75p) per week - men, women, 5s (25p) per week - children
  • 1931 dole was cut by 10% and was means tested
  • Prove you were eligible for the dole
• Cost of benefits rose there were calls to reduce them further
• Unemployment Act 1934: Unemployment Assistance Boards (UAB)


  1. Responsible for managing the means test

  2. Made sure benefits were for those in need and actively seeking work

  3. People found it degrading, invasive, rely on small incomes, Strain on family life

  4. PAC officers searched through your name and forced you to see things
• North England and Wales felt forgotten
• Hunger marches were organized


  1. Thousands of people attended to show the continuation of hardship

  2. Miners groups organised marches from places such as the Rhondda to London
• Government did nothing to prevent the ship yards from closing: 75% unemployed
• 200 people marched 300 miles to London

  1. 14 days they marched

  2. Marched to singing and had their books mended free of charge: fed and sheltered
• Government passed the Special Areas Act, too little, too late
• 14th October 1932, in south wales, 375 marchers set off


  1. Intention present a petition to parliament to abolish the means test

  2. Marches concerned government: developed spies and informers

  3. Force was also used to confiscate the petitions so they could not reach parliament