§ Mr. CURRAN (Durham, Jarrow)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the 1357 Home Department whether his attention has been called to the number of complaints made respecting alleged breaches of the Particulars Clause in tailoring workshops in London during 1907; and whether he will take the necessary steps to secure the enforcement of the clause.
§ MR. GLADSTONEMy attention has not been specially called to this matter; and I find on inquiry that only nineteen complaints were received during 1907 by the London inspectors of breaches of the Particulars Order in tailoring workshops. Proceedings were taken in five cases and a conviction secured in each case. In the enforcement of these Orders, the inspecting staff must necessarily rely to a considerable extent on information received from the workers themselves. Any complaints made to them will be inquired into and, I may add, will be treated as confidential.