§ 43. Commander Purseyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he is aware that the children of the British Legion Village, near Maidstone, Kent, attending the Tea Pot Lane school, Aylesford, the Snodland school, and St. Francis school, Maidstone, on journeys to and from the schools are obtaining from, and returning to, the Preston Hall workshops, British Legion poppies to be made up at home for sale to the public; and what steps he will take to stop this practice of child employment.
§ Mr. EdeI have inquired into the statements in this question and am informed that the children of some of the more seriously disabled ex-Service men assist their fathers by carrying parcels between their homes and the workshops. The local education authority do not regard this as employment, and I see no reason to dissent from their view.
§ Commander PurseyIs my right hon. Friend aware of the fact that on Tuesday of this week, as early as 8 o'clock in the morning, school children were at this factory to get poppies to take home and that they are already making them at 1514 home when they ought to be doing their homework or taking recreation? Should not steps be taken to stop this business of child employment in the home?
§ Mr. EdeI have made careful inquiries into this, and I am informed that the practice is limited to what I said.
§ Major Tufton BeamishCan the Home Secretary tell us how long it will take the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for East Hull (Commander Pursey) to get over the fact that the British Legion will not have him as a member?