MR. MACLEANI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can inform the House what is the minimum age at which children in the countries represented at the Berlin Conference may be employed for hire in factories and workshops, and the number of hours per diem during which children of the minimum age may be so employed; and in which of these countries there is a staff of Factory Inspectors charged with the duty of enforcing the law as to hours of labour in industrial establishments?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir J. FERGUSSON,) Manchester, N.E.The information desired by my hon. Friend in the first part of his question will be found on pages 68 and 69 of the Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories, 1891. As regards the second paragraph, 1717 I am unable to-day to reply to my hon. Friend, as the Reports which would give the information have been sent to the Home Office, and I have been unable this morning to obtain access to them. The Reports which were called for as to legislation abroad to carry out the recommendation of the Berlin Labour Conference are nearly ready for presentation.
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONIt is probable that the information the hon. Gentleman wishes for is in the Reports I have referred to. If my hon. Friend will repeat the question on Monday, I shall be able to tell him.