59. Viscountess ASTORasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is proposed to introduce legislation on the lines of the recommendations of the Select Committee on Shop Assistants or of that unanimous part of their recommendations relating to the limitation of hours of work of young persons?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Gilmour)The question of legislation in regard to hours of young persons in shops and other matters on which the Select Committee were unanimous is under consideration, but I am not in a position at present to make any statement in the matter.
Viscountess ASTORWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that most of these children are working as long as 72 hours a week; and does he not think that this House would be glad to legislate to prevent such things?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAs I have said, there has been no delay in taking the matter into consideration, and arrangements are being made to receive a deputation with regard to some of the details at an early date.
Viscountess ASTORIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that two committees have sat dealing with this matter and that the House already knows the details?
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESAre we to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that the Government, in arranging its legislation for the new Session, will bear in mind this very important point?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have said that I am riot in a position at present to make any statement about the matter.
§ Mr. MICHAEL BEAUMONTWill the Home Secretary bear in mind the very specific pledges given by the Government on this matter in connection with the Children and Young Persons Act?
63. Viscountess ASTORasked the Home Secretary whether it is the intention of the Government to bring before Parliament at an early date a resolution authorising local authorities to make by-laws relating to the hours and conditions of employment of juveniles?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI presume that the Noble Lady refers to Section 51 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1932, which confers powers upon local authorities to regulate by by-laws the employment in certain occupations of persons between 14 and 18 years of age. Sub-section (4) of that Section provides that an Order of the Secretary of State appointing a date for these powers to come into operation shall not become effective until it has been approved by Resolutions passed in the same Session of Parliament by both Houses of Parliament. I would refer the Noble Lady to the statements made by the Government spokesman when this provision was under discussion in this House, and in particular to the statement which is reported in column 2112 of the OFFICIAL REPORT for the 30th June last. The Government spokesman then stated that it was not the intention of the Government that this question should be dealt with merely by bringing into operation Section 51 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1932. He made it clear that it was the intention of the Government, when they came to deal with this question, to bring it before Parliament in the form of a Bill.
Viscountess ASTORWhen is it the intention of the Government to bring it before Parliament in the form of a Bill?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI cannot give any definite reply to that question.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the very serious difficulties in connection with the administration of the Section of the Act which he has quoted and, if possible, try to clear the thing up in any new legislation that is contemplated?
§ Sir J. GILMOURYes, Sir.