§ 20. Mr. WESTWOODasked the Postmaster-General for what reason the Post Office Regulations authorise the employment of telegraph messengers under 14 years of age, whether exempted from the obligation to attend school or not?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONAs I have already explained to the hon. Member, in reply to his question of the 5th February last, the Regulations provide that no candidate for appointment as boy messenger in the Post Office can be accepted until he is legally exempt from further full-time attendance at school, i.e., normally, at the end of the term in which he attains the age of 14. If the hon. Member knows of any instances in which boys have been accepted when under 14 years of age, and will let me have particulars, I will have inquiry made.
§ Mr. WESTWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that at Errol, in Perth- 2242 shire, in November, 1927, a boy was employed by the Post Office who was under 14 years of age, and had to make the necessary application to the education authority for exemption?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI have just said that I am not aware of any such cases. If the hon. Member directs my attention to that particular case, I will have inquiry made.
§ Mr. WESTWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the central schools in England pupils have to give a guarantee that they will go on till they are 15 years of age, and that consequently there is no possibility of their being enlisted in the service of the Post Office under these Regulations, since 14½ is the maximum age; and will he take these facts into consideration with a view to amending the Regulations and giving equal opportunity of employment?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI do not think that the hon. Member has accurately stated the facts.