§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many children below the age of 16 years have been identified by his inspectors as involved in illegal employment during each year since 1980.
§ Mr. NichollsDetails of individual instances of illegal employment are not kept but convictions under section 1 of the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act 1920, concerning the illegal employment of children since 1980 are as follows:
Year Convictions 1981 4 1982 4 1983 3 1984 6 1985 6 11986 4 21986–87 9 31987–88 42 1 January to March. 2 April to March. 3 April to March. 4 Provisional. NoteSome of these convictions may involve instances of multiple employment.