HC Deb 30 July 1942 vol 382 cc668-9
19. Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that persons with handcarts stand outside certain schools waiting for the children to bring articles of clothing from their homes in return for fountain pens, scents, goldfish, books and flashlamps, about which hand bills have already been circulated; whether he will take steps to prevent this, in view of the fact that the transactions are a business and not a voluntary effort, that children may be induced to bring from their homes articles without the knowledge of their parents and that it has a tendency to distract the attention of the pupils from their work at school?

Mr. E. Brown

I have seen the hand bill to which my hon. Friend refers. The contemplated transactions would appear to be made offences by Section 154 (1) of the Public Health Act, 1936, which provides that no person engaged in collecting rags, old clothing or similar articles shall sell or deliver, whether gratuitously or not, any article of food or drink to any person, or any article whatsoever, to a person under the age of 14 years.

Mr. Davies

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps, therefore, to stop the possibility of a man's best Sunday suit being exchanged for a goldfish?

Mr. Brown

If the hon. Gentleman studies the Act with care, he will see that responsibility for administration rests on the shoulders of the local authorities concerned.

Mr. Goldie

What happens under the Act if the clothing is not old?