§ Mr. EDGAR JONESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, under the special rules with regard to registration of juvenile applicants in England and Wales, made in pursuance of Regulation IX. of the General Regulations for Labour Exchanges, managed by the Board of Trade, it was proposed to supply every day and evening school with copies of the form of registration, and to recognise the principal teacher of each school as an agent acting officially for a Labour Exchange in behalf of any pupils desirous of registering; whether there was any provision in the special rules or form of registration for consulting the wishes of the parents of juvenile applicants; and whether the Labour Exchanges would, as the General Regulations now stand, register the personal application of a boy or girl of 14 years of age, and advance travelling expenses under Regulation V. (1) and (2)?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Sydney Buxton)The recognition of a school for the purposes of registration under Rule 1 of the Special Rules with regard to the Registration of Juvenile Applicants in England and Wales will be a matter of special arrangement in each case between the Board of Trade and the local education authority. As regards the second part of the question, the Special Advisory Committee for juvenile 1461 employment will no doubt suggest to the Board of Trade such arrangements, if any, as appear to them desirable for ascertaining the wishes of parents with respect to the choice of employment by their children. Juvenile applicants may register in person at any Labour Exchange, and the regulations authorising advances of travelling expenses does not exclude juveniles. Officers in charge of Labour Exchanges will, however, be instructed not to make advances in the case of juvenile applicants without the assent of the parent.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked when it was proposed to open the Labour Exchange in Merthyr Tydfil?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe Labour Exchange at Merthyr Tydfil will be opened in the course of the next few days.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is intended to open a central office specially for the mining district?
§ Mr. BUXTONThat is a point I have under consideration. It is not a very easy matter to decide offhand; but I have it under consideration, and I hope to be able to arrive at some conclusion.
§ Mr. WATTasked what was the number of appointments that had been made by the Board of Trade under the Labour Exchanges Act; and how many of these had been conferred on men who have given military service to the State?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe total number of appointments including all grades which have been made under the Labour Exchanges Act up to the present is between 500 and 600. I am unable to say how many of those appointed have given military service to the State.