§ MR. S. WOODS (Walthamstow)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has examined the list of fines as printed in the Daily Chronicle on 24th March, which are alleged to be now in force in many shops in London; and, if so, does he consider such fines are legal under the Truck Act of the present Government; and, if these lines are illegal, will he institute an inquiry into the matter, with a view of abolishing the lines which are illegal under the Act of Parliament?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. JESSE COLLINGS,) Birmingham, BordesleyI have seen the list of fines referred to. It is impossible for me to say in what cases they are or are not legal. That, by the Statute, depends on the consideration of all the circumstances of each case, and can only be determined judicially by a prosecution in a court of summary jurisdiction. The duty of enforcing the Truck Act in shops is not imposed on the Home Office, nor is it provided with the machinery for the purpose; but it is open to anyone interested to institute a prosecution.