The Scottish Poor Law Act

The Scottish Poor Law Act of 1845 was legislation designed to provide organized assistance to those in poverty. It established local boards responsible for assessing needs and delivering aid, primarily through workhouses. The law aimed to create a more systematic and less charitable approach to poverty relief, ensuring assistance was available to those unable to support themselves. It also sought to reduce outdoor relief—aid given without requiring indoor confinement—by encouraging work in return for aid, thereby promoting employment and discouraging reliance on poor relief.