§ SIR M. STEWART (Kirkcudbright)I beg to ask the Secretary for the Home Department whether, in view of the new issue of seven-day newspapers, amounting at present to an initial issue 706 of one-half to a million, and the consequent Sunday employment of thousands of hands in their distribution, he will receive a deputation on the subject, so that the complete facts of the case may be laid before him, more especially as information has already been given to the Government on one side of the question by one of the largest of the Sunday newspapers?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY, Lancashire, Blackpool)I am quite in sympathy with my honourable Friend in deprecating any unnecessary increase of Sunday labour. In this case the facts appear to be in dispute. I do not know what action he suggests that the Government should take—nor, in fact, can the Government take any action. I shall be ready, however, to receive a small deputation, if my honourable Friend thinks he can supply me with reliable information on a subject which is of considerable public interest.