HC Deb 06 February 1893 vol 8 cc534-5
MR. FENWICK (Northumberland, Wansbeck)

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware of the fact that children cannot be employed in coal mines until they have reached the age of 12, and that since the 1st of January of this year they cannot be employed in factories and workshops as half-timers until they are 11 years of age, but may, according to existing bye-laws, leave school at 10 if the requisite standard is passed, and whether the Education Department propose to take any steps to, remedy this state of things?

THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. A. H. ACLAND,) York, W. R., Rotherham

The facts mentioned in the question indicate a state of the law as to school attendance which is far from being satis- factory, and to which attention has been called in many quarters, especially by the Trades Union Congress, with whose Parliamentary Committee the hon. Member is so closely connected. The law on the subject is complicated, and the remedies suggested, now that individval examination of standard children is no longer the rule, are somewhat various. I have already arranged for the appointment of a small Committee, with one representative from the Home Office, one from the Education Department, and one from the Labour Department of the Board of Trade, which will set out clearly the state of facts in its bearing on school attendance and child labour, and will also report on the exact conditions now in force in certain foreign countries which are much in advance of us in this matter. Their Report will be laid before the House. Meantime, in view of the Factory Act Clause mentioned in the question, which came into force on January 1st last, it would probably be well to lay down at once that no child under 11 shall be totally exempt from school attendance, whatever standard it may have passed. This is a very small step in advance; but as I imagine the House would be willing to take it immediately, I shall be prepared to introduce a Bill for the purpose.

MR. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.)

Will the Report be presented to the House?

MR. ACLAND

Yes, Sir.