§ Mr. T. L. CORBETTasked whether the right hon. Gentleman will lay upon the Table of the House the list of 1769 laundries in connection with religious denominations which, under the Factory Act of 1907, are now subject to inspection by the Home Office, and also a list of those laundries which, under Clause 5 of that Act, have applied that inmates shall only be examined in the presence of one of the managers?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEA list of religious and charitable institutions, in which laundries are carried on, was presented to Parliament in 1905. Since that date all such laundries have been brought under the Factory Act, and are now included in the general registers of factories and workshops which are kept by the Factory Department. I do not see that there is any public object to be gained such as would justify the trouble and expense of the special list which the hon. Member desires.
§ Mr. THOMAS SLOANIs it the fact that during these inspections a manager of the institution must be present, and what public advantage is gained by that?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEThis question was fully debated at the time of the passing of the Act, and I am sure the hon. Member knows as well as I do what the reason for the provision was. There is no reason whatever to suspect that any unlawful practices against the Factory Acts occur in these institutions.
§ Mr. CORBETTDoes the right hon. Gentleman remember that an Amendment to this Clause was carried by a snap vote in Committee?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEIt was not so.
§ Mr. SLOANMay I ask what public advantage is to be gained by the presence of a manager when an inspection takes place?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEThat does not arise out of the question. It is a question of law.