§ MR. PHILIP STANHOPE (Burnley)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the particulars of the case reported in the local press where two sisters, young women employed in a weaving shed in the town of Burnley, one of whom, having been discharged without notice for reasons she thought insufficient, brought an action against the employers for wages in lieu of notice, and the employers, the day before the date fixed for the trial, paid the full claim and costs; whether he is aware that on the following day notice to quit was given by the employers to the other sister, without any cause of complaint whatever assigned against her, who, in spite of her repeated requests, refuse to give any reason to her in explanation of her discharge; and, whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the case?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. JESSE COLLINGS,) Birmingham, BordesleyThe attention of the Secretary of State has not been called to this case except by the hon. Member's Question. There is no suggestion in the facts which the hon. Member states of any offence against the law having been committed, and this being so I am afraid there is nothing which calls for an inquiry on the part of the Secretary of State. It is obviously impossible for him to undertake to inquire into every case where workpeople are alleged to have been harshly treated by their employers, and even if he made inquiries he would have no power to interfere.