§ MR. CONYBEAREI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, in connection with the service of the Press in this House, a number of young boys are employed by the Boy Messenger Company; that these boys (about 13 years of age) have to be on duty from 12 o'clock mid-day till whatever hour the House sits, with only one half-hour off duty for tea; that on a recent occasion, when the House sat till 2 or 3 o'clock a.m., one lad of 13, who had been on duty since the previous mid-day with only one-half hour for tea at 6 o'clock, had to go into the City with Press messages before he could leave work; and whether he is prepared to introduce legislation to protect these young lads from being compelled to work such long hours?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am informed that the ordinary hours of attendance of 851 these boys do not exceed the limits pre scribed by the Factory Acts, though, of course, these boys do not come within the scope of those Acts. They may occasionally work overtime; but I have had no facts before me to show that legislation is necessary.
§ MR. CONYBEAREIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of these boys was working from 12 o'clock at noon until 3 o'clock in the morning?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am not aware of that fact.