§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the Home Secretary whether it is permissible under factory law to sleep and feed persons of both sexes in rooms used for manufacturing purposes; whether such practices have taken place in the Soho district during the dispute in the tailoring trade;, whether he intends to institute proceedings against occupiers so offending; and whether he will utilise the powers conferred by Section 4 of the Factory Act, 1907, in such a manner as to make the practice impossible in future?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe only provisions on the subject in the Factory Act, apart from those relating to dangerous trades, are that if a workshop other than a domestic workshop is occupied also as a sleeping apartment a higher proportion of cubic space per worker may be required in the day time, and that women and young persons must not be allowed during the meal times required under the Act to remain in a room in which a manufacturing process is then being carried on. Numerous inspections have recently been made in the Soho district, but no infringements of these provisions have been discovered. I think the reference in the last part of the question to Section 4 of the Act of 1907 must be a mistake; perhaps my hon. Friend will communicate with me on the point.