HC Deb 06 August 1918 vol 109 cc1299-300

(1) The Employment of Children Act, 1903, so far as it relates to England and Wales, shall be amended as follows:— (i) For Sub-section (1) of Section three the following Sub-section shall be substituted:

A child under the age of twelve shall not be employed and a child of the age of twelve or upwards shall not be employed on any day on which he is required to attend school before the close of school hours on that day, nor on any day before six o'clock in the morning or after eight o'clock in the evening:

Provided that a local authority may make a by-law permitting, with respect to such occupations as may be specified, and subject to such conditions as may be necessary to safeguard the interests of the children, the employment of children by their parents, but so that any such employment on a school day before nine in the morning shall be limited to one hour, and that if a child is so employed before nine in the morning he shall not be employed for more than one hour in the afternoon.

Lords Amendments:

In Sub-section (1), paragraph (i), after the word "employed" ["shall not be employed"], insert the words, "on any Sunday for more than two hours or."—Agreed to.

After the word "children" ["the employment of children"], insert the words "of the age of twelve or upwards, before school hours and the employment of children."—Agreed to.

Leave out the word "such" ["so that any such employment"].—Agreed to.

After the word "employment" ["any such employment"], insert the words "permitted by by-law."—Agreed to.