CHILD LABOUR IN AGRICULTURE.

HL Deb 02 July 1942 vol 123 cc691-2WA

LORD STRABOLGI

asked His Majesty's Government what is their policy with regard to child labour in agriculture.

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THEMINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (THE DUKE OF NORFOLK)

The Government has recently provided by Defence Regulation that, subject to suitable safeguards, individual school children of twelve and upwards may be exempted from school attendance for a limited period in order to help in urgent seasonal agricultural work. At the same time uniform conditions have been laid down for the employment in agriculture of school children, whether in holidays or in term time. Exemptions in respect of any child are limited to twenty half days in the year, and extensions can be granted only in case of special emergency and with the approval of His Majesty's Inspector of Schools. Children will not be released for employment in agriculture except with the consent of their parents or the persons having custody of them.

Instructions have been given to county war agricultural executive committees not to encourage or to facilitate the employment of children under the age of fourteen until other sources of supplementary labour (including local women and soldier labour, if available) have been fully used. Committees have also been instructed to make every effort to see that, as far as possible, children under fourteen are not employed for more than four hours on any day, so that in term time they may attend school for either the morning or the afternoon session.

House adjourned.