§ SIR CHARLES DILKEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been 657 called to the case of Squire, His Majesty's Inspector of Factories, v. Messrs. McBride and Williams, of Belfast, under the Truck Act of 1896, Section 2, Subsection (1), in which it was shown that two girls were fined for damaged work to an amount in excess of the wage which they could have received for the work had it been perfect, while a third, of fourteen years of age, was fined nearly a third of her weekly wage; if so, will he state whether an appeal will take place; and whether, seeing that a series of such cases has shown that the section does not fulfil the purpose of protecting the workers from fines which are disproportionate to their earnings, he will consider the advisability of proposing an amendment of the law.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. COCHRANE, Ayrshire, N.)This case is engaging the careful attention of the Department, but no final decision has been arrived at. The necessary steps for an appeal have, however, been taken in case that course should be determined upon.