§ MR. FENWICK (Northumberland, Wansbeck)On behalf of the hon. Member for Gateshead I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to Sections
† See (4) Debates, cxxxii., 834.81 3 and 9 of The Employment of Children Act, 1903, and the powers of variation by the inspectors of mines, he will state to what extent the inspectors can vary the provisions set forth in Section 3; and whether the hours therein mentioned can he changed to any other of the same duration.
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sI am advised that the inspectors of mines have no power under the Act in question to vary the hours during which the employment of children under fourteen is prohibited by section 3. Nor can those hours be varied by any other authority in respect of employment in pursuance of the Mines Regulation Act.