§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention has been drawn to the case of Seal v. Alexander decided in the High Court on the 19th January last, in which it was held that places in which only men are employed and from which any work is given, out to be done elsewhere are outside the scope of the particulars Section of the Factory and Workshop Act; whether he is aware of the hardship which the withdrawal of this Act of protection means for numbers of outworkers in the wearing apparel, boot and shoe, and other trades; and whether he can see his way to introduce legislation to embody the intention of Parliament to provide that particulars of wages to be paid shall be provided for all piece work irrespective of the personnel of the premises from which the work is given out?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have had under consideration the decision given by the High Court on the appeal which was taken by the direction of the Home Office in the case referred to, and in view of the serious 27 consequences of the decision to large numbers of outworkers in the wearing apparel and other trades I have come to the conclusion that it is desirable to amend the law on the subject, so far as relates to men's workshops, without delay A Bill for the purpose has been drafted and was introduced and read a first time in the House of Lords last Wednesday.