§ 39. Mr. Edmund Harveyasked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the varying conditions under which schoolchildren are being encouraged to act as fire-watchers in schools, and the fact that some under 14 years of age have been so employed; that, in some cases, the cost of providing food for pupils engaged in fire-watching has fallen upon the teachers; and whether he has issued, or will issue, advice on these matters to the local education authorities?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (Mr. Ede)In Circular 1542, of which I am sending the hon: Member a copy, it was suggested that school fire prevention parties might be recruited from, amongst other sources, older students and trainees. It was not contemplated that schoolchildren under 16 years of age, which is the minimum age specified in the Defence Regulations for compulsory enrolment, should be employed on fire prevention duties, and I should strongly deprecate any such practice. I have seen reports in the Press about the employment as fire watchers of children under 14 in one area, and I am taking the matter up with the local education authority concerned. I have no 421 evidence that the cost of providing food for members of school fire parties has fallen upon teachers, and the need should not arise since local education authorities were authorised in the Circular to meet reasonable claims for expenditure on extra meals and travelling expenses actually incurred by members of fire parties in schools within the public system of education.
§ Mr. HarveyWill the hon. Gentleman take steps to see that local authorities which are making no provision for children and teachers volunteering for this work shall do so?
§ Mr. EdeI think the publicity which has been given by the Question and Answer will assist in that way.
§ Mr. Ellis SmithHas the hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the case of Blackpool?