§ Lord Jenkins of Putneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether children are illegally employed, and if so in what areas of employment this is most prevalent and whether it is their policy that the law shall be obeyed.
§ Baroness HooperThe Government certainly consider that the law should be obeyed with respect to the employment of children. The available figures relating to prosecutions and convictions for the illegal employment of children in different areas of employment are shown in the table.
(a) Non-Industrial Undertakings
Figures notified to the Home Office for prosecutions and convictions under Sections 18,19 and 20 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933:—
Prosecutions Convictions Convictions 1979 23 18 1980 26 25 1981 24 22 1982 17 16 1983 12 12 1984 12 9 1985 11 9 1986 2 2 1987 8 8 1988 28 22 (b) Industrial Undertakings
Prosecutions by the Health and Safety Executive under Section 1 of the Employment of Women, 974WA Young Persons and Children Act 1920 and concerning the illegal employment of children:—
Informations Laid Convictions 1981 4 4 1982 4 4 1983 3 3 1984 6 6 1985 8 6 1986 (Jan-March) 4 4 1986/87 (Apr-March) 11 9 1987/88 (Apr-March) 2 2 (c) Agricultural Undertakings
Informations laid by HM Agricultural Inspectorate against persons at work who put at risk children under the age of 16 by the contravention of agricultural legislation:—
Informations Laid Convictions 1981 40 37 1982 31 24 1983 18 16 1984 16 15 1985 30 27 1986 27 22 1987 21 15 1988 (Jan-March) 3 3