§ 25. Mr. BRIDGEMANasked if the memorandum issued by the Home Office on the law relating to shops is intended to convey the decision that the whole premises of a coal merchant where the business is conducted, including the wharf, the yards, and the lorries from which coal is retailed, will be regarded as a shop within the meaning of the Act; and if the men in charge of the lorry from which coal is retailed, and the men wholly employed in loading or unloading coal and filling coal bags, will be regarded as shop assistants within the meaning of the Act?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have no authority to give a decision on the particular questions raised by the hon. Member, but I think a retail coal merchant would be well advised in regarding any premises in his occupation in which coal is sold by retail and dispatched to customers as coming within the Act. I would refer the hon. Member to the definition of the expressions "shop" and "shop assistant" in Section 19 of the Act. Persons employed in selling coal from carts in the street are not shop assistants, but the provisions of Section 9 of the Act apply to such sales.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that on the 19th May 282 last year the Home Secretary wrote from the Home Office to say that the provisions of the Shops Bill will not apply to people delivering coal at houses?
§ Mr. McKENNAThat is quite consistent with what I have said. The words-are "who are mainly employed."
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the answer he has just given is in conflict with that given by his predecessor in Grand Committee in regard to the men employed as carmen and others mentioned in the latter part of the hon. Member's question?
§ Mr. McKENNANo; I was not aware of that.