§ MR. W. F. D. SMITH (Strand, Westminster)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his attention has been called to proceedings under Sub-section (3), of Section (27), of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1895; and, whether he can state, in view of the conflicting decisions arrived; at by various magistrates, if the subsection is intended to apply to bakehouses temporarily unoccupied on the 1st of January 1896?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolI have seen newspaper reports of two cases in which proceedings have been instituted under the sub-section referred to. The question, however, as to the correct interpretation of the sub-section is one of law which I have no authority to decide and which can only be settled by an appeal to the High Court. I understand that in both cases appeals are pending.