§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now considered the position of certain typewriting offices in relation to the Factory Act, as he promised to do on 25th February last; and whether he proposes to institute a test prosecution?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The Secretary of State fears he can add nothing to the reply which he gave to the hon. Member's previous question on this subject, namely, that the processes carried on in these offices are not, in his opinion, manufacturing processes within the meaning of the Act. If the Act were applied to these processes in typewriting offices it would have to be applied to the same and similar processes when carried on in ordinary business offices. He does not propose to institute a test prosecution.
§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Home Secretary at the time promised to reconsider the whole matter, and whether, in view of that reconsideration, he has any reason to change his opinion in that respect?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI do not think my right hon. Friend promised a reconsideration. He promised consideration as to the possibility of taking a test 1371 prosecution, but the question has been very carefully considered, and the result has been to confirm the previous opinion that there would be no power under the Act to secure penalties.