§ Mr. Gardnerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education 808W whether he is aware that, taking advantage of the temporary suspension of the Education Acts in evacuation areas, some small employers are taking into employment children of school age; and whether the provisions against employing children under 14 years of age are at present being enforced in all areas?
Mr. LindsayYes, Sir. As I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies) last Thursday, the situation would be remedied if the law of school attendance was operative in the evacuation areas. This is a matter which the Government have under active consideration. The employment of children of school age is not prohibited but is subject to the provisions of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, and local by-laws which the local authorities are responsible for enforcing. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has no reason to believe that this duty is not being carried out.