§ Mr. DENMANasked the Home Secretary how many local authorities have made by-laws in pursuance of the powers conferred upon them by Section 1 of The Employment of Children Act, 1903, and how many of these have been confirmed by the Home Office with and without amendment, respectively; and whether that section has in fact had any appreciable effect in reducing below the statutory limits the hours of labour worked by school children?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLBy-laws under Section 1 of the Act have been made and confirmed in the case of seventy-seven local 8 authorities in England and Wales. The Home Office has no power to amend bylaws when confirming them, but the usual practice is for by-laws to be submitted in draft in the first instance so that the details can be discussed between the Home Office and the local authority before the latter finally adopt them. The by-laws are enforced by the local authorities, and not by the Home Office, and it would be very difficult to obtain definite information as to the actual reduction in the amount of child labour which has been effected; but it is certain that in many towns there has been a considerable improvement as a result of the by-laws on the conditions existing before the Act was passed.
§ Mr. DENMANHaving regard to the importance of the subject, and the recommendations of the Street Betting Committee, and also having regard to the intimate connection of this question with the Bill introduced by the President of the Board of Education, will the right hon. Gentleman have further inquiry made into this question?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI fully agree with my hon. Friend as to the importance of this subject, but I do not think I can deal with a question, which has so many considerations attached to it as have just been enumerated, and leads up to the decision to hold a special enquiry, without much more notice than my hon. Friend has afforded me.