§ MR. BAGWELLsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the Inquest on Mary Anne Walkley, a workwoman in the employment of Madame Elise, described as Court Dressmaker, of 170, Regent Street, the Verdict at which 1316 stated that the deceased died of apoplexy; and if the Government have any intention to take measures for the Registration and Inspection of Workrooms; and, further, whether it is intended to institute a criminal prosecution against the employer of the deceased Mary Anne Walkley?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYSir, I know nothing of this case except from the report in the newspapers of the proceedings at the inquest. If the finding be correctly given, as I apprehend it is, it would appear that in the opinion of the jury death was caused immediately by apoplexy, but was accelerated by long hours of work in overcrowded apartments, and by sleeping in an ill-ventilated bedroom. There is no doubt that it would be very desirable to establish by law a system for the better regulation of workrooms, and for the prevention of evils such as those disclosed by the present case; but I am not prepared to say, on the part of the Government, that it would be possible to establish a general system of registration and inspection of these workrooms, many of which form portions of private houses. My hon. Friend adverted, I presume, to the law by which masters and mistresses, who are liable to provide for their apprentices food, clothing, and lodging, and have wilfully omitted to do so, are subject, upon conviction, in cases where there has been danger to life or permanent injury to health, to very severe punishment. I cannot say whether that law is applicable to this case. There appears to be some doubt whether this young woman was an apprentice, or whether she was a servant or hired workwoman.