HC Deb 18 February 1915 vol 69 cc1322-3W
Mr. ANDERSON

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the action of the school attendance sub-committee for the Petty Sessional division of Guildford in deciding to exempt boys over twelve from school attendance, in order that farmers may obtain child labour for agricultural work; whether he is aware that the subcommittee considers it unnecessary to inform the Surrey education committee of its decision; whether he will communicate with the education authority of Surrey; and whether any general relaxation of bylaws for the purpose of employment in agriculture is approved by the Board of Education?

Mr. PEASE

I have seen, a statement in the Press on this subject, and am communicating with the Surrey local education authority. As regards the last question, the answer is in the negative, and I may refer the hon. Member to the correspondence which has recently been laid upon the Table and printed as a White Paper [Cd. 7803].