§ Mr. ArcherTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many prosecutions have been taken out as a result of investigations by education welfare officers in each year since 1973 for alleged offences in connection with the employment of children; how many employers have been so prosecuted; with what result; and what was(a) the highest, (b) the average and (c) the lowest penalty imposed following a conviction.
§ Mr. FreemanI have been asked to reply.
Information about alleged offences in connection with the employment of children does not separately identify prosecutions taken out as a result of investigations by education welfare officers.
The available figures relating to prosecutions and fines for all forms of employment are as follows:
323WIndustrial Undertakings
Prosecutions by the Health and Safety Executive under
Fines Imposed (£) Year Employers Prosecuted Information Laid Convictions Highest Lowest Average per conviction 1981 3 4 4 150 50 75 1982 3 4 4 480 15 178 1983 3 3 3 400 100 200 1984 2 6 6 600 50 233 1985 4 8 6 1,000 10 242 1986 (January to March) 2 4 4 150 100 138 1986–87 (April to March) 3 11 9 300 25 208 1987–88 (April to March) 2 12 22 300 3— 150 1 Fines imposed as the result of information laid. 2 Provisional. 3 Guilty but absolute discharge. Agricultural Undertakings
Information laid by Her Majesty's agricultural inspectorate
Fines imposed (£) Year Informations laid Convictions Highest Lowest Average per conviction 1981 52 47 300 15 60 1982 31 26 400 15 116 1983 18 17 200 35 73 1984 16 14 500 30 118 1985 27 26 1,000 25 177 1986 25 21 400 10 85 1987 18 16 250 50 78 1988 3 3 25 25 25 (January-March) Note: Figures from 1973 are not available
Non-industrial under takings
Figures notified to the Home Office for proceedings under Sections 18, 19 and 20 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933:
Fine (£) Year Proceedings Highest Lowest Average 1979 23 50 5 16 1980 26 50 3 12 1981 24 100 5 22 1982 17 20 3 14 1983 11 50 10 24 1984 12 50 20 26 1985 11 50 10 35 1986 2 100 40 70 1987 8 500 10 154