Labour’s Lord Faulkner of proposed an amendment to the Employment of Women, Young Persons, and Children Act 1920, which barred children from work in any “any industrial undertaking”, including in mines, construction or transport.
If agreed, his change would have exempted voluntary work on heritage railways and tramways from the ban.
Government whip Lord Katz cautioned there “may be unintended consequences” by amending the “old legislation”, but Lord Faulkner indicated he could push for a vote on his proposal before the Employment Rights Bill becomes law.
Supporting the proposals, independent crossbench peer the Earl of Clancarty said: “ railways are an important part of this country’s heritage, and as every year passes that importance surely grows.
“We are getting closer to a time when there will be no-one with a personal memory of such trains in their working life, so as well as being an enjoyable activity for interested, enthusiastic children and young people, this is also an educational opportunity for the next generation.”
Lord Faulkner said the ban was from a “very different era” and told the Lords it “languished unknown on the statute book for many years”.
He said: “Heritage railways managers, not surprisingly, do not wish to break the law, even if it is moribund and other safeguards exist.”
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