Recommended
Recommended
More Related Content
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
Featured
Featured (20)
The Butler Act, Cabinet Papers
- 1. What could the Butler Act Cabinet Papers tell me about the past? Initial ideas Political attitudes Education – ideas and reforms Relationships in the Cabinet Actual findings Political attitudes Importance of language Religious implications Education – ideas and reforms Social issues Political policy History of teachers/teaching Relationships in the Cabinet Political agenda Individual biography Feelings or fears in the Cabinet
- 2. 28 March 1944 National Archives CAB/65/41/42. Available at: http://filestore.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pdfs/small/cab-65-41-wm-44-42-42.pdf
- 3. 9 July 1943 National Archives CAB/66/38/49. Available at: http://filestore.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pdfs/small/cab-66-38-wp-43-299-49.pdf
- 4. 28 March 1944 National Archives CAB/65/41/42. Available at: http://filestore.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pdfs/small/cab-65-41-wm-44-42-42.pdf
- 5. 28 March 1944 Reputation over equality. National Archives CAB/65/41/42. Available at: http://filestore.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pdfs/small/cab-65-41-wm-44-42-42.pdf
- 6. 28 March 1944 The demand for equality and influence of trade unions. National Archives CAB/65/41/42. Available at: http://filestore.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pdfs/small/cab-65-41-wm-44-42-42.pdf
- 7. 28 March 1944 Equal pay is not an immediate issue - why make it one? National Archives CAB/65/41/42. Available at: http://filestore.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pdfs/small/cab-65-41-wm-44-42-42.pdf
- 8. Textual Analysis (3) (4) Text Meaning Context Language Denotation Signification Genre Historical situation Intention Style Structure (3) Paul Redman, 'The State of Twentieth-Century British Political History', Journal of Policy History, Volume 21, Number 3, 2009,. (4) Jan Ifversen, ‘Text, Discourse, Concept: Approaches to Textual Analysis’, 2003, accessed 23 October 2014
- 9. Why was the rejection such an issue and what was the urgency to push this Bill through? What was the influence of trade unions? What was the historical context of equal pay? How was this relevant to teachers’ pay? Did the Prime Minister make an emotional, genuine or manipulative plea by using the war to ensure support in the Government? Why did Churchill dictate the formal procedures in the House of Commons with regards to the Bill?
- 10. Date Cabinet Paper Content National Archives Reference Further research 9 July 1943 Education Bill CAB/66/38 /49 Recommendation of Burnham committee Clause 107. Who are Burnham Committee? Equal pay and development of unions? 28 March 1944 Objection raised on grounds of pay – thoughts and feelings of politicians and future procedure with regards to the Bill. CAB/65/41 /42 Where is Minute 3 and what was said? Why is there a discrepancy between this paper (Clause 82) and the Education Bill (Clause 107 refers to pay – no mention of sex). Why was coherence so important within the Government? What was the real issue with the Clause? Amending then restoring? How did the Clause eventually appear? What does this tell us about politicians and relationships between them? What is the bigger picture of equal pay?
Editor's Notes
- Following the advice of Elton, I took an open-minded approach to the Cabinet Papers, looking for something interesting and unexpected. I was pleasantly surprised when I read the papers as I realised they are diverse sources, containing a variety of information about different fields of history, depending on the questions asked.
- After reading the War Cabinet meeting of 28 March 1944 (CAB/65/41/42) I focused on the issues of equal pay. As detailed in this document, the Education Bill was rejected on grounds of discrimination of pay between men and women. The marginal note pointed to an additional document; however, I could not find a digitised version of this on the National Archives website.
- I then turned to the Education Bill, in search of Clause 82; however, found there was a discrepancy between what was said in Cabinet document (referring to Clause 82) and the actual Bill. Clause 107, not 82, referred to pay but there was no mention of discrimination between men and women, only reference to the Burnham Committee pay scales; this Committee was also referred to in Cabinet meeting document.
- Perhaps the Clauses did not marry up because Clause 82 was omitted, as The President of the Board of Education said it could be? Or perhaps the version referred to has not been digitised? Or perhaps I am not reading the Bill correctly – limitation of a training historain!
- Returning to the meeting of 28 March, the thoughts and feelings of certain Cabinet members could bring to light their views with regards to equal pay. The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, was worried the rejection will have a damaging effect on opinion abroad and should the matter, therefore, remain confidential. In this sense, it is not equality that is important but reputation.
- The Minister of Labour and National Service agreed on the issue of confidentiality, noting its disastrous effect if the Government interfered with “the decisions of independent tribunals on wage questions.” This could highlight the demand for equality as well as the influence of trade unions.
- And, The Chancellor of the Exchequer emphasises that notion that equal pay is not an issue that requires immediate action. Consequently, why make it common knowledge?
- The language used in this document, including dramatic words such as “disastrous” “major issue” and “most anxious” all add to a sense of fear and urgency among politicians and illustrates the relevance of the “textual approach” (3) or “textual analysis” (4) – a fairly new approach applied to political history.
- In line with this approach, considering the documents structure, content and language, alongside historical significance a number of questions are raised.
- These questions cannot be answered without further research and consideration of other evidence.