§ MR. D. CRAWFORD (Lanark, N.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that complaints have been made of defects in the inspection under the Factory Acts in Scotland, in particular that masters who keep their workmen employed on stated holidays are not prosecuted, and that the new Workman Inspectors allege that they have no power to enter premises; and whether he will ascertain how far these complaints are well founded?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH, Fife, E.)I have no reason to suppose that disregard of the law as to holidays is a common offence. Certain cases have been reported by the Inspectors, and the offending parties have been cautioned; but, except in a few instances, it has not been found necessary to institute criminal proceedings. The operations of the Inspectors' assistants are by Departmental instruction limited to workshops. The Inspectors attend to both factories and workshops.