§ SIR WILLIAM DUNN (Paisley)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department—(1) whether his attention has been called to an accident which occurred on the 14th July last, whereby a lad of 16 years of age, named George Wylie, in the service of Messrs. Lobintz and Company, Renfrew, lost his life by falling from a loose gangway; (2) whether Wylie, who had only been a few days in the service, was working overtime, contrary to the provisions of the Factory Acts; and (3) whether any action is proposed to be taken by the Department in regard to the alleged contravention of the Statutes?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolThe answer to the first two paragraphs of the Question is in the affirmative. Wylie gave his age to the foreman of the works as 18, and it was owing to this misrepresentation—supported as it was by the lad's appearance—that he was employed overtime. Special inquiry was made into the case by the Inspector at the time, who did not think it one where the employer was to blame, and therefore did not prosecute. In any case, proceedings could not now be taken after the lapse of more than six months.