Oral Answers to Questions — Kenya – in the House of Commons at on 17 March 1943.
Mr Thomas Harvey
, Combined English Universities
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Ordinance amending the Kenya Masters and Servants Ordinance (No. 16) of 1939 is yet in operation; and what are the reasons for the delay in bringing it into force, in view of its importance as affecting conditions of juvenile employment?
Hon. Oliver Stanley
, Westmorland
The Employment of Servants (Amendment) Ordinance of 1939 has not hitherto been brought into operation owing principally to the depletion of staff for military and other war reasons, which made it impossible to introduce the system of registration of juveniles without which it could not have been enforced. I have recently been informed that a short Bill has been published for introduction in the current session of the Legislative Council to provide that no juveniles shall be subject to any of the penal provisions of the Employment of Servants Ordinance, 1937.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
