HC Deb 21 July 1884 vol 290 c1742
MR. MACFARLANE

asked the Lord Advocate, If his attention has been called to an application made in March last by Mr. R. Chappel of Islay, to the Procurator Fiscal at Inverary, to put in force the Truck Act for the protection of certain lead miners in the Island of Islay, and the reply of the Procurator Fiscal thereto; whether the following extract from the Fiscal's letter of the 11th of March has been brought under his notice— I find that, although the Act applies to an iron or coal miner, it does not appear to apply to a lead miner. I am therefore unable to do anything in the matter; and, if this is a true exposition of the Law, if Her Majesty's Government will take steps to have the Law amended?

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)

It is the case that the Truck Act 1 & 2 Will. IV. c. 37, does not apply to miners in lead mines. The Commissioners appointed in 1871 to inquire into the working of the Truck Act reported in favour of lead mines being included within the scope of the Act; but this has not yet been done. I shall inquire into the particulars of the case referred to in this Question, with a view to considering as to legislation.