HC Deb 11 June 1991 vol 192 cc493-4W
Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is his estimate of the number of schoolchildren working part-time who are in breach of child employment legislation regulations; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what is his estimate of the number of schoolchildren working part-time who are in breach of child employment legislation/regulations; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The available information relating to prosecutions and convictions for the illegal employment of children in different areas of employment is shown in the tables.

(a) Non-industrial undertakings Figures notified to the Home Office for prosecutions and convictions in England and Wales under sections 18, 19 and 20 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933:

Year Prosecutions Convictions
1979 23 18
1980 26 25
1981 24 22
1982 17 16
1983 12 12
1984 12 9
1985 11 9
1986 2 2
1987 8 8

Year Prosecutions Convictions
1988 28 22
1989 23 19

Information relating to the employment of children in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

(b) Industrial undertakings Informations laid by HSE's Factory and Agricultural Inspectorates for breaches of section 1 of the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children's Act 1920 and concerning the illegal employment of children.

Year1 Informations laid Convictions
1981 4 4
1982 4 4
1983 3 3
1984 6 6
1985 8 6
21986 4 4
1986–87 11 9
1987–88 2 2
1988–89 7 7
1989–90 8 6
1 1981–85, calendar years.
2 1986, January to March 1986.
1986–87 onwards, years commencing 1 April.

(c) Agricultural Undertakings Information laid by HM Agricultural Inspectorate against persons at work who put at risk children under the age of 16 by the contravention of agricultural legislation:

Year Informations laid Convictions
1981 40 37
1982 31 24
1983 18 16
1984 16 15
1985 30 27
1986 27 22
1987 21 15
21988 3 3
31988–89 18 17
1 1981–1987—Calendar years.
2 1988—1 January to 31 March.
3 1988–89—Year commencing 1 April (provisional).

Figures for industrial and agricultural undertakings apply to Great Britain