§ 31. Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the owners of the St. Thomas Collar Factory, Exeter, where the workgirls, since the National Insurance Act came into operation, are being charged 1½d. per week in addition to their contributions under the Act; whether this action of the firm in question in making the girls pay one-half of the employer's contribution in addition to their own is a violation of the terms and intention of the Act; and whether he proposes taking any steps to penalise actions of this kind or to seek fresh powers to enable him to do so?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI have given instructions for an inspector to visit the factory and investigate the case.