§ 133. Mr. Morleyasked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities permit children to be employed in agriculture during term-time.
§ Miss Horsbrugh98 authorities have been authorised to grant exemptions from school attendance to enable children of 13 and over to help with this year's potato harvest, provided they are satisfied that no other source of labour is available. I cannot say how many of these authorities have found it necessary to grant such exemptions. As the hon. Member will now be aware, Defence (Agriculture and Fisheries) Regulations Nos. 29 and 30 under which arrangements have been made by local education authorities for exempting children from school attendance to help with the gathering of crops are being allowed to lapse on the 10th December next and thereafter no such exemptions will be granted. Children will still be able to engage in agricultural work outside school hours, subject to the conditions of Part II of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, and to any local byelaws made thereunder.