§ 42. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet received for confirmation any by-laws relaxing the Statute which prohibits employment of school children by others than their parents before school hours; and whether, before confirming any such by-law, he will require the insertion of all conditions necessary to safeguard the interests of the children, especially such as will secure them their usual hours for sleep, and for breakfast, and freedom from employment during ill-health, or in the open air in bad 211 weather, or in any occupation likely to be injurious to life, limb, health, or education; and will fix quite definitely the hour of employment, and provide that all such employment shall be subject to the holding of a licence which may be granted, suspended, or revoked by the local education authority?
§ Mr. SHORTTSome local authorities have submitted by-laws under Section 13 (1) (i) of the Education Act of last Session, permitting the employment of children before school. No such by-laws have yet been confirmed, and the whole question of the safeguards to be required in any case where such employment is permitted is now under consideration. The points mentioned by the Noble Lord will be borne in mind.