§ Mr. Keyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will institute an inquiry into the employment of children by parents running small family businesses;
(2) whether he is satisfied that increased Sunday trading will not lead to an increase in the breaches of section 18 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and the Employment of Children Act 1973; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will list (a) the number of prosecutions and (b) the number of convictions in each of the past three years under section 18 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and the Employment of Children Act 1973 in respect of the employment of children and young persons below the statutory school-leaving age; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe Government have no plans to change the existing restrictions in the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and byelaws made under that Act on the employment of children below statutory school leaving age. The Employment of Children Act 1973 has not yet been implemented. We are, however, satisfied that the existing legislation dealing with the employment, education, care and protection of children provides adequate powers to local authorities to safeguard children including those employed by their parents. We do not therefore propose to institute an inquiry. Comprehensive information on the numbers of prosecutions and convictions under section 18 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 is not available centrally in the form requested.