Oxford Dictionary (2013) defines welfare state as a system whereby the state undertakes to protect the health and well-being of its citizens, especially those in financial or social need, by means of grants, pensions, and other benefits. Clasen, J. and Siegel, N. (2007) defines the deliberate use of organized power to modify the play of market forces. In addition, Oxford Dictionary (2013) defines welfare as the health, happiness, and fortunes of a person or group. The Old Poor Law (The Elizabethian Poor Law) was introduced in England and Wales in 1601. The law unified all the previous legislations into one. Murray, P. (2006) argues that the motivation behind the Old Poor Law was partly humanitarian but was mainly due to concern for social stability. In addition, according to Bloy, M. (2002) the Old Poor Law was aimed to benefit poor; by feeding the hungry, clothing the poor and giving drink to the thirsty in order to stop the suffering of people who lived in severe poverty. In the 17th century, the poor were believed to be those who are unemployed, sick, disabled, elderly and children. Bloy, M. (2002) says that the Poor Law made provision for the creation of 'Overseers' of relief, levying a compulsory poor rate on every parish, the 'setting the poor on work’ and the collection of a poor relief rate from property owner. Since there were approximately 15,000 parishes in England and Wales, each parish was required to elect Easter two “oversees of the poor” who were responsible in implementing all the above provisions. It was the 1601 Act which empowered parish overseers to raise money for poor relief from the inhabitants of the parish, according to their ability to pay. Murray, P. (2006) insist that houses were built to house the indigent poor, the able bodied unemployed were given work, cash or food and finally there was the formation of a committee of ratepayers who were responsible to the magistrate for the operation of poor law. Margerie Bloy (2002), argues that there were two types of relief. To start with, there was the outdoor relief in which the poor would be left in their homes and received a sum of money or clothes and food instead. On the other hand, he mentions the indoor relief in which the poor would be taken into local almshouse, the ill would be taken to hospital, orphans were taken into orphanage and the idle poor would be taken into the poor-house or workhouse where they would be set to work. Also, the law singled out those poor people who deserve help and those who don’t. In 1795, Speenhamland system was introduced. Murray, P. (2006) argues that the system was introduced because of the revolution in France at that time. He maintains that the revolution caused the ruling classes in Europe to panic and therefore England feared a revolution might takes place among the poor. The price of increased quickly and there was food shortages due to series of poor harvests. As a result, some local parishes decided to try and reduce the problems that the poor were facing. Speenhamland parish in Berkshire was the first one to address the problems faced by the poor people. The parish decided to subsidies the low wages of agricultural labors by giving them an allowance. The allowance was based on the number of children in the family and the price of bread. That is why the practice is known as Speenhamland System. In 1662, there was the Law of Settlement Act which stated that if a person became unemployed while in another parish, he or she would be required to move back to the town /village they originated from to claim poor relief. Also, in 1782 Gilbert’s Act was passed. It aimed to unify individual parishes to form larger poor law authorities. The advantage of this was that, the parishes were able to share workhouses hence reducing the costs. In 1832, the Royal Commission was formed to enquire into the working of poor law. The Commission was made up of 9 members including Nassau Senior and Edwin Chadwick. It conducted a detailed survey and prepared a report. The report took th