§ MR. RAMSAY MACDONALD (Leicester)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions during 1906, 1907, and up to date in 1908 have been instituted against florists for working women and young persons under the conditions which would be legalised by the Home Office Orders 806, 807, and 808.
§ MR. GLADSTONENo proceedings have been taken during this period for employment of women and young persons in the manner permitted by the Orders mentioned. I must point out that until last year the application of the Factory Act to florists was a doubtful point, and that since the decision was given in the case of Hoare v. Green last year, the representations from the trade, on which these orders were made, have been under my consideration. I should perhaps also add that the effect of the decision is not to bring the whole of the trade within the scope of the Act, but only those cases in which it can be shown that manual labour in the manufacture of wreaths, etc., is exercised to a substantial extent.