| AdminHistory | West Calder is a parish in the county of Edinburghshire which was created in 1845 under the Poor Law (Scotland) Act which established parochial boards across Scotland for the distribution and allocation of poor relief to the destitute who were not of able body. Each parochial board in Scotland appointed a poor relief inspector who was responsible for the local administration of poor relief. From 1865, poor relief inspectors were responsible for maintaining a list of all those applying for relief, and in instances where relief was refused, to give reasons for this. Poor registers were open documents, which could be seen by any ratepayer upon request.
It was the duty of the poor relief inspector to respond to all applications for relief within 24 hours. Before doing this the inspector, or Assistant Inspector, would make a home visit to the applicant as well making enquiries into their state of health and their ability to work.
From 1865, parishes were also required to keep a separate register for children, detailing those children who had been orphaned or deserted. Although some of these children were sent to poorhouses, children were largely "boarded-out" to suitable guardians. As a requirement of the Children Act 1908, West Calder Parish maintained a register of foster parents. Foster parents were visited by inspectors and reports of such visits were recorded on these registers.
Mr William Roxburgh, the parochial schoolmaster, was appointed as Poor Law Inspector for the West Calder parochial board at its inaugural meeting. Others serving as Poor Law Inspectors for the parochial board included, (in most instances the Poor Law inspector is referred to by position and not name):
Mr Robert Thomson Mason (1847-?)
Mr William Miller (including the year of 1895 )
The powers of parochial boards, like West Calder were increased following the Public Health (Scotland) Act which gave them the responsibility for public health duties. Each parochial board was required to appoint medical and sanitary inspectors. There were additionally given the power to form water and drainage districts.
The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1894 abolished parochial boards, replacing them with elected councils and a Local Government Board for Scotland. This increased the power of local government and enabled parish councils, such as West Calder to acquire buildings for use as offices and grounds which could be used for recreational purposes.
The minute books of the parochial boards and parish council contain accounts of the consideration of poor relief cases and decisions regarding the distribution of relief. The levels of poor relief distributed were extended in 1921 when, following a meeting with the Scottish Board of Health, the parish council extend relief to the able-bodied, unemployed.
West Calder Parish Council held its final meeting in the May of 1930, following the disbanding of parish councils under the auspices of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929. This was followed by the creation in the same year of West Calder District Council. Like other District Councils in Scotland, it was responsible for housing, lighting, drainage, parks and cemeteries. West Calder District Council also retained the parish council's responsibility for distribution of poor relief until the scheme was superseded by the provisions made by the welfare state. West Calder District Council existed alongside Midlothian County Council, the other body responsible for local government administration in this area, between the years of 1930-1975.
Beyond, distribution of poor relief, local government bodies played an import role in the increasing provision of welfare in the early twentieth century. The Old Age Pensions Act 1908 was passed by government to provide small-means tested pension to those over 70 years of age. These pensions were paid through the post office and local administration was conducted under the supervision of voluntary committees appointed by local councils. In West Calder, the West Calder Local Pension Committee supervised the payment of pension from 1908 until 1948, at which time pensions became the responsibility of central government.
The School Management Committee of West Calder has surviving records dating from 1922, although it is possible that this local committee was inaugurated at an earlier date. School management committees were provided for, in Scotland, by the Education (Scotland) Act of 1918. This required that all education authorities should appoint school management committees. These were largely filled with co-opted members, who were responsible for the day-to-day running of schools. More specifically West Calder School Management Committee was responsible for; the recommending of exemptions from school; dealing with defaultery and issuing attendance orders (decisions regarding prosecution remained with the authority); supervision of books and stationery; fixing of holidays (with agreement from authority); dealing with applications for use of schools. School Management Committees also dealt with application for relief, in terms of school clothing for children attending school.
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