hardship would be caused to the tenant. The Protection from Eviction Act of 1924 provided some degree of protection to tenants "in the face of landlords seeking vacant possession and rent rises." This legislation protected tenants from eviction by landlords who attempted to obtain "decontrolled" status for their properties to raise rents. In addition, government funds were allocated for the repair and modernisation of 60,000 government built houses. A subsidy for sugar beet cultivation to support agriculture was introduced, while schemes for roads and bridges, land reclamation and drainage, and afforestation were developed and extended. Financial support was also provided to municipal works to reduce unemployment. Although relief schemes funded by the chancellor Philip Snowden had little impact on reducing unemployment, the registered rate of unemployment fell from 11.7% in 1923 to 10.3% in 1924. The restrictions imposed by the previous government on spending by the Poplar Board of Guardians were removed, while the National Health Insurance (Cost of Medical Benefit) Bill revised the capitation fee paid to doctors. Restrictions introduced by the previous Coalition government on state grants to the principal public health grant earning services (including maternity and child welfare, tuberculosis, and venereal disease) were removed. This was followed by a circular issued to local authorities to this effect and enabling them "to carry out more effectively their public health powers under the law." Child welfare and maternity services were extended, while ex-service patients who had been treated as "pauper lunatics" under former Governments were removed from being treated in that way. As a result of this change, they were now paid for out of public funds. The restrictions which prevented people from other countries, short-time workers, married women, and single persons residing with relatives from claiming uncovenanted benefit were abolished, while the "gaps" of 3 weeks which previous governments had made necessary after 12 weeks’ unemployment pay. In addition, a new Act was passed that extended the benefit period from 26 to 41 weeks. The rate of interest charged under the Agricultural Credits Act of 1923 passed by the previous Conservative government was reduced to 4%, while a 5% reduction on admissions to training colleges (imposed in 1923) was withdrawn. Improvements were also made in the pay of workers in the Army. For war pensioners, new pensions were provided "in deserving cases at the rate of over three hundred a week." Various improvements were also made to