§ 42. Mr. ROBINSONasked the President of the Board of Education whether he has now given the sanction of the Board to the practice of various education authorities whereby children of eleven are taken to work in the fields; and whether he has considered if women could be more suitably so employed if adequate payment were made them?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Herbert Lewis)The Board have no legal power to sanction such a practice. Their general attitude is indicated in Circular 898, which was issued after a Debate in the House of Commons on the 4th March, 1915, and states that children should only be excused from school if no other labour is available. My right hon. Friend regards the increased employment of school children on the land with much apprehension, and he is in full accord with the special efforts which are now being made by the Board of Trade in co-operation with the Board of Agriculture to obtain the services of women where no male labour is available.
§ Mr. ROBINSONMay I ask if the Board of Education have any power to limit in any way the Grants in cases where children are so employed?
§ Mr. LEWISThe President of the Board is at the present moment receiving a deputation upon this question, and perhaps my hon. Friend will wait until he sees what becomes of it.