82. Major EDWARDSasked the President of the Board of Education whether according to The Education Act, 1918, no child under the age of 12 is to be employed; if so, whether he is aware that many such children are employed in industrial areas in selling newspapers; and whether he will take the necessary steps to put the Act into force in this respect?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Shortt)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative. As regards the last part, the duty of enforcing the provisions of the Employment of Children Act, 1903, as amended by the Education Act, 1918, rests with the local authorities. If my hon. and gallant Friend has any information which indicates that the provision to which he refers is not being enforced and will give it to me, I will communicate with the local authorities concerned.
§ Mr. SHORTTNo, I was not.