§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he had received any complaints as to the working of the Shops Act, 1911; if so, to what defects the complaints had pointed; and whether he intended to introduce legislation to repeal or amend the Act?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Act has not yet been in operation for a fortnight, and it is obviously too early to attempt to form any general estimate of its working and effects. While I have received a large number of inquiries as to the application of the Act, actual complaints have been very few indeed. The only important representations that have been made to me are those which have come from the refreshment and licensed victualling trades, as to which I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a question of the hon. Member for Harwich last Thursday.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONDoes not that reply refer only to refreshment shops, and not generally?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt refers only to those trades.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the closing of shops used as post offices is causing considerable inconvenience to the people in 778 the neighbourhood? Is he also aware that on Saturday afternoons it is quite impossible for newspaper shops to supply people with newspapers, because they cannot have the boys to sort them out.
§ Mr. McKENNAPerhaps the hon. Gentleman will bring all these facts to my notice.