§ MR. J. CALDWELL (Mid Lanark)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fines imposed by colliery proprietors in Scotland in respect of foreign material found in hutches, and which exceed, in some cases, the amount paid to the miner for the whole coal sent up in the hutch; and 1258 whether such fines are legal; and, if so, whether he is prepared to bring in Legislation for dealing with such fines and with other fines imposed by colliery proprietors?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. H. H. ASQUITH,) Fife, E.My attention has recently been called to several cases of deductions made by colliery owners for dirt. I am advised that in certain of these cases the deductions are illegal, and I have instructed the Inspectors to request that they may be discontinued, failing which, it will be my duty to cause legal proceeding to be taken. In view of these proceedings, it is perhaps inexpedient to enter into details respecting particular cases, but I may say generally, that I am prepared to see that the existing law is put in force; and in a Bill which I hope to introduce, I shall consider the expediency of amending the law with respect to checkweighing, so as to put a stop to all unfair fines or deductions.