HC Deb 17 May 1895 vol 33 cc1441-2
MR. J. KEIR HARDIE (West Ham, S.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of John Simpson, chimney sweep, charged at Rotherhithe with unlawfully soliciting employment from door to door; and whether he will introduce a measure to prevent similar prosecutions in future?

MR. ASQUITH

This prosecution took place under an Act of Parliament, winch was passed as recently as last year. The defendant pleaded ignorance of the law, and the magistrate adjourned the summons indefinitely, with a caution to the man not to infringe the Act in future. I do not propose to ask the House to repeal the provisions of the Act of last year.