HC Deb 26 April 1910 vol 17 cc245-6
Mr. THOMAS HARVEY

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many boys were employed as stampers in Somerset House, and what proportion of them were discharged without opportunity of further service; and whether he would take steps to secure that in the future the Department should not employ more juvenile labour than it was able to absorb?

Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE

The total number of boys employed on the staff of the Stamp Department in England is 142. In 1907 the Commissioners of Inland Revenue took steps with a view to reducing the number of discharges amongst the older boys on that staff, and further steps in the same direction are now under consideration. The number of boys having more than three years' service in the Stamping Department who were discharged therefrom in 1908 because of lack of vacancies on the men's staff was three. In 1909 there were no such discharges. The number of boys on that staff who were promoted during those two years to permanent situations under the Commissioners of Inland Revenue was twenty-two.