§ 29. Mr. RAFFANasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will take steps to secure that, where children of school age are employed in any capacity, their hours of labour, remuneration, and general conditions of employment must be approved by the Board of Education, whose inspectors shall have power 1924 to visit the place of employment and report on the conditions prevailing there?
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWISThe proposal of the hon. Member would affect the functions of other Government Departments, and would require legislation which, I am afraid, could not be regarded as uncontroversial.
§ Mr. RAFFANMay I ask whether, in view of the fact that in the discussion on the employment of children in agriculture general support was given to this suggestion in all quarters of the House, he will take steps to ascertain whether legislation upon this subject would be regarded as controversial?
§ 30. Mr. WINGasked the President of the Board of Education if he will issue instructions to all education authorities that where children of school age are employed in any capacity their hours of labour, remuneration, and general conditions of employment must be approved by the Board of Education, whose inspectors shall have power to visit the place of employment and report on the conditions prevailing there?
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWISI may refer the hon. Member to the answer which I have just given to the hon. Member for Leigh. My right hon. Friend has no authority to issue such instructions nor would local education authorities have power to give effect to them under the law as it stands at present.
§ Mr. WINGIs it a fact that the late President of the Board of Education (Mr. J. A. Pease) gave the House to understand that such action would be taken?
§ Mr. LEWISI am not quite sure of the time to which my hon. Friend refers, but many attempts have been made to transfer the administration of the Employment of Children Act to the Board of Education, but such attempts have not been successful.