§ MR. BELL (Derby)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the conditions revealed by the Return on Home Work, No. 211; and, if so, what steps has he taken or proposes to take to remedy those conditions.
§ MR. GLADSTONEYes, I have had before me the Return on the subject of the home work provisions of the Factory Act, to which my hon. friend alludes, and which was prepared by my direction. The provisions of the Factory and Workshop Act relating to home work are enforceable by local authorities and not by the Home Office, The Return showed that the administration of those provisions in many districts was inadequate. I have caused a circular letter to be sent to the local authorities impressing upon them the importance of a more vigorous enforcement of the law, and I shall be happy to send a copy of this circular to my hon. friend and to any others who desire it. Further steps are under consideration.