§ MR. F. A. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether, in the event of the subject of fines and deductions from wages being dealt with by Bill, he will take into consideration the complaints of railway servants that they are compelled, as a condition of employment, to sign an engagement to give their whole time to the company employing them, while the company does not in return guarantee to the men employed a full week's wages, but in many cases only gives occasional and irregular employment paid as piecework; and, whether in any such Bill he will 919 consider the advisability of making such conditions of service illegal?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYThe question of prohibiting such contracts as the hon. Member refers to is not one which relates to truck or to fines or deductions from wages, and could not therefore be properly dealt with in a Truck Bill. I am informed by the Board of Trade that there is no evidence so far as they are aware tending to show that legislative interference of the character suggested is required.
§ MR. CHANNINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many cases during the last two or three years railway servants on the running staff have only earned from 11s. to 15s. a week under this system?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI am not aware of the fact; in any case, this is not a matter which concerns my Department.