§ 26. Sir WILLIAM BYLESasked the President of the Board of Education whether, in accordance with Section 13 of the Education (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1907, and Section 3 of the Employment of Children Act, 1903, he will at once direct all rural education authorities to provide for the medical inspection of all children leaving school for agricultural employment and direct them to prepare and serve on the employer of each child such certificate as is contemplated by the Acts cited and justified by the condition of health and education of the child; and whether he will order that the full details of each case shall be immediately reported to the Board of Education and publish them in a Parliamentary Paper weekly during the continuance of the War?
Mr. PEASEProvision is already made in the Code for the medical inspection of all children after reaching the age of twelve, and no facts have been brought to my notice which would justify the imposition on all rural local education authorities of such an addition to the work of the school medical service as my hon. Friend suggests. Any inquiry as to the Employment of Children Act, 1903, should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs.
§ Mr. W. THORNEWhat happens where children leave the school below the age of eleven? Is there any medical inspection then?
Mr. PEASENot if they leave at eleven, but under the Robson Act there should only be a partial exemption at eleven. There ought to be two medical inspections before the age of eleven. If they leave at eleven they may escape the third or final medical inspection which takes place at the age of twelve.