The Majority Report by the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws was published in 1909. The commission was set up to work out the best way to relieve the poor of economic and societal hardship. It was made up of members of the Charity Organisation Society such as Helen Bosanquet as well as Local Government Boards, Trade Unions and social researchers such as Charles Booth.
This Royal Commission published two reports: a Majority report and a Minority report.
Findings of the report
- The origins of poverty were moral factors
- The Poor Law should remain
- Boards of Guardians provided too much outdoor relief
- Able-bodied poor were not deterred from seeking relief because of mixed workhouses.