Member

I want to mention heritage railways, and an issue that is very important for the Watercress line in my constituency. We are talking about amending a piece of legislation from 1920 about the employment of women and children in industrial settings. It was never intended to cover volunteers working in the heritage railway sector. The people working in or running that sector believe that the legislation is getting in the way. Ministers say that it is not, but clearly, the lawyers have looked at the matter and have come to the conclusion that it is. It is very helpful for the Secretary of State to have said today, on the record and on the Floor of the House, what he has done. Clearly, though, we will need more guidance to get through this impasse. Will he nod his assent to writing to me with further details of how we might clarify the situation, so that heritage railways have the comfort of knowing that it is all right to have young people working in volunteer positions?