§ MR. TALBOT (Oxford University)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state what steps are being taken to prevent the 432 working of young women and children for excessive hours in the fruit-preserving factories, and whether any improvement has taken place in this industry since attention was called to the abuse of the regulations by the report of the principal lady inspector.
§ *THE SECRETAEY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolThe danger referred to by my right hon, friend is no new thing. It is the result of the undue latitude allowed by the Factory Acts as they stand at present, the abuse of which it is impossible to prevent without legislation. One of the clauses in the Factory Bill was designed to provide a remedy. In the meantime the law is enforced as far as it will go; and some improvement has been effected.