§ 82. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for India what is the minimum age at which children are allowed to work in India in the mines and factories, respectively?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Earl Winterton)The minimum age is 13 in mines and 12 in factories.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHave any steps been taken to raise these ages?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe ages are really, for physical reasons due to climatic conditions, not comparable with those of European children. In the second place, this Bill, which is now the law, was only passed quite recently in the Assembly, and, so far as I am aware—I should have to refresh my memory—no proposal was made by unofficial members that the age should be 196 raised higher than that which was in the Government Bill. It is really a matter more for the Assembly than for this House.