§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the New Cumnock Collieries Company, Limited, Ayrshire, Scotland, have intimated by notice to their workpeople that the deductions from their wages for medical service will be paid over to a certain practitioner, who is a relative of the managing director; that a memorial signed by 300 workpeople objecting to this and directing 1022 the medical deductions to be handed over to the two medical men hitherto acting for the workpeople has been sent to the firm, who have ignored the request; that pressure is being brought to bear upon the workmen, and threats of dismissal used, to compel them to agree to recognise the medical nominee of the company and to desert the doctors of their own choice; and whether he proposes taking action to enforce those provisions of the Truck Act which are thus being violated?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Gladstone)I have received a report with regard to this matter, from which it appears that the facts are, generally, as stated in the first two paragraphs of the question. The company took over the mine in question last March, and an agreement was entered into at the time between them and the men employed at the mine in pursuance of section 23 of the Truck Act, 1831, for deductions to be made in respect of the provision of medical attendance by the company. The company contend that the memorial referred to in the question protesting against the new arrangement, and requesting that the deductions be paid to the same doctors as before has not terminated the agreement; and if this is so, no infringement of the Truck Act is being committed. The company state, however, that they are not making deductions from the wages of those who have personally signified to them their objection to the deductions, but they decline to collect deductions for the former doctors. The matter appears to be one for settlement between the company and the men.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEMay I ask whether the Home Secretary is aware that the men do not object to the deduction being made, but they do object to giving it to a man whom they do not want to pay for. Is not that an infringement of the principle of the Truck Act?
§ Mr. GLADSTONENo; the point is not a new one. It has arisen in many parts of the country. Of course, there are difficulties.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEWill not the Home Office instruct the Mines Inspector to enter a prosecution?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEI have already explained that it does not seem clear that there has been an infringement of the Act.