§ MR. A. H. PROVAND (Glasgow, Blackfriars)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the result of a prosecution instituted by Mr. R. E. Graves, Her Majesty's Inspector of Factories, before Sheriff Fife, at Glasgow, on 16th January, for a breach of sections 10 and 13 of the Factory Act of 1878; whether he is aware that the defendant was charged with employing his son, who was under 16 years of age, at four o'clock in the morning, when, according to the Act, he should not have been employed before six o'clock, and that, although the defendant admitted the offence, no penalty was inflicted, and no costs were allowed; and, as refusing to allow even the costs of a successful prosecution may deter factory inspectors from bringing such cases before the Court, whether he will inquire into the facts of the case, and take such steps as may seem to be necessary to ensure a more effective application of the Act?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTMy attention was called to this case at the time, and I made inquiries with regard to it. The facts are as stated in the Question, and there appears to have been a clear violation of the law. I have brought the matter to the notice of the Scottish authorities. The hon. Member may rest assured that what occurred in this case will not deter the Inspector from doing his duty under the Act.