§ 29 and 30. Mr. WHITEHOUSEasked the Secretary of State for the Home-Department (1) whether he has received any reports from his inspectors respecting the withdrawal of children of twelve years old from school in order to be sent to industrial work; and whether he will lay them before the House; and (2) what action he proposes to take with reference to the employment of children of school age in agriculture and factories?
§ Mr. McKENNAAs regards the employment of children in agriculture, I have no jurisdiction. As regards their employment in factories, the only powers which I possess to sanction their employment otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of the Factory Act are those conferred by Section 150 of the Act, which authorises the grant of exemptions in cases of public emergency. I have not made any order under this Section modifying the provisions in the Act as to the employment of children, nor should I be prepared to make any such order except in an extreme case where I was satisfied that this was necessary for the purpose of accelerating the work being done under an urgent Navy or Army contract. No proposals have been made to me for the withdrawal of children twelve years old from school, nor have I received any reports from the factory inspectors on the subject.