§ Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education whether he has seen a circular letter issued by the Herefordshire local education authority to their school managers saying that boys who have not attained the age of twelve may now be released from school for employment, but asking them to stipulate that young boys should not be left in sole charge of a team of horses, as serious accidents have arisen in this way and in two cases they believed with fatal results; and whether he will advise the local education authority to impose more stringent conditions?
Mr. HENDERSONI have not seen the circular letter in question. I am addressing a circular to county local education1388W authorities calling attention to the undesirability of excusing children under twelve from school for employment in agriculture, and to the need for a strict observance of the conditions agreed to in the House of Commons with regard to children above that age.
§ Mr. KINGalso asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that His Majesty's superintendent inspector of factories and His Majesty's inspector of factories for Bradford have in person attended before the Bradford Education Committee to urge the full-time employment of children of thirteen years; and whether he has been consulted about, or has consented to, this local education authority's suspension of its educational by-laws?
Mr. HENDERSONMy right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has replied to the first part of this question in reply to Question No. 107, addressed to him by the hon. Member. The reply to the last part of the question is in the negative. I do not understand that the local education authority has, in fact, suspended its educational by-laws.
§ Mr. KINGnext asked the President what steps he is taking to ascertain the number of juveniles who will be urgently in need of technical education to fit them for permanent employment when temporary war work ceases; and what steps he is taking to provide suitable instruction, training, and discipline for such young persons?
Mr. HENDERSONI am giving this matter very careful consideration, and hope to be in a position to make an announcement on the subject shortly.
§ Mr. KINGfurther asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that children of school age are being employed in the coal mines of Durham contrary to the Education Acts; whether the Durham County Education Authority is prosecuting the parents for the failure of the children to attend school; and whether he will advise the authority to prosecute the employers also for employing children in contravention of the Education Act, 1876?
Mr. HENDERSONI understand that the Durham Local Education Authority are prosecuting the parents of certain children who have taken employment in coal mines and have failed to attend 1389W school, and that they are in communication with His Majesty's Inspector of Mines with reference to a proposal to prosecute the employers for employing children in contravention of the Elementary Education Act, 1876.
§ Mr. KINGnext asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that, owing to the attractions of unskilled work at high wages in temporary war work, there is a dearth of boys available for apprenticeship in skilled trades; and whether he will take steps to secure more educational control over the choice of employment by children leaving school?
Mr. HENDERSONI am aware of the large amount of unskilled labour at present required, and that, owing to the high wages offered, there is a great temptation to boys and their parents to place the boys at unskilled work. The Board of Education cannot, however, without legislation, secure more educational control over the choice of employment by children leaving school. For the present, I am afraid we must rely upon such influence as can be exercised by the Juvenile Advisory Committees of the Board of Trade Labour Exchanges, and the Juvenile Employment Committees appointed by local education authorities under the Education (Choice of Employment) Act, 1910.