HC Deb 15 February 1877 vol 232 cc375-6
MR. HEYGATE

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether Her Majesty's Government propose to carry out the recommendation of the Factory and Workshops Acts Commissioners, that— The residence in canal boats of female young persons, and of children above the age of three years, should be forbidden by legislation in the present Session?

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

The subject of the hon. Member's Question deserves consideration, because the floating population of the class to which he refers is at the present moment in a very unsatisfactory position. Too much praise cannot be given to Mr. Smith for his labours in bettering the condition of those persons. Although I agree in the main with the recommendations of the Factory and Workshops Acts Commissioners, I am not prepared to adopt entirely the suggestions made in their Report. It is, however, quite necessary that if persons sleep on beard these boats, the beats should be registered in somewhat the same way as lodging-houses are.