§ *SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the statement on page 57 of the Annual Report on Factories and Workshops that cases continue in which charges are made for insurance under the Work- 1048 men's Compensation Act and the amount deducted more than covers the premium; and whether the promise made by his predecessor on August 4th, 1903, is to be redeemed.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE,) Leeds, W.I am aware of the statement to which my right hon. friend alludes. In accordance with the promise given in August, 1903, the question of these deductions was brought by the Home Office before the Departmental Committee on Workmen's Compensation who reported that "if the practice were shown to be other than very exceptional it might be a question worthy of consideration whether the provisions of the Truck Acts should not be extended to check the evil." I agree with the Committee in the view that the matter is one to be dealt with rather by an Amendment of the Truck Acts than of the Workmen's Compensation Act, and I am informed that the Truck Committee now sitting has it in mind and has already heard evidence with regard to it.