HC Deb 19 May 2004 vol 421 cc1054-5W
Mrs. Brooke

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will publish his response to the Better Regulation Task Force report on the regulation of child employment. [172449]

Margaret Hodge

I will be replying to the Chairman of the Better Regulation Task Force shortly and will place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

Mrs. Brooke

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the recommendations made in the Better Regulation Task Force report on the regulation of child employment; and if he will make a statement. [173389]

Margaret Hodge

[holding answer 14 May 2004]The report by the Better Regulation Task Force on the regulation of child employment contains five recommendations, which I have considered carefully. I hope to make a positive response to the report shortly. A consultation process, as recommended in the report, will be undertaken to ensure that any changes in child employment legislation to be introduced will meet the needs of those subject to it. Before any new legislation is introduced, a full regulatory impact assessment will be carried out.

Mrs. Brooke

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to ensure that existing guidelines and codes of practice regarding the employment of children are enforced at local authority level. [173390]

Margaret Hodge

[holding answer 14 May 2004]: Local authorities are currently responsible for determining that child employment legislation is complied with and it is for local authorities to ensure that any guidelines and codes of practice that they may have are enforced at a local level.

Mrs. Brooke

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to propose new clauses to the Children's Bill relating to the regulation of child employment in England and Wales. [173391]

Margaret Hodge

[holding answer 14 May 2004]There are no plans to introduce clauses into the Children Bill relating to the regulation of child employment in England and Wales. Any changes to child employment legislation are likely to be introduced by way of a Regulatory Reform Order, as recommended by the Better Regulation Task Force report on the regulation of child employment.