80. Mr. POINTERasked the right hon. Gentleman whether certain refreshment caterers are adopting the Shops Act, 1912, for one section of their employés and the Act recently passed for another section; and whether he proposes taking any action in the matter?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have no information on this subject other than that supplied to me by my hon. Friend. The agreement which he has been good enough to send to me made by the management of a well-known hotel in regard to the kitchen staff of the hotel appears to be an agreement outside the provisions of the Shops Act, 1913. I would add that the administration of the Act rests, not with the Home Office, but with the local authority, and any representations as to cases in which it is alleged the Act is being infringed should be made to them.
Mr. POINTERSeeing that the hotel proprietors and restaurant keepers refused 1840 to work the 1911 Act, and that the amending Act of this year was passed at their instance, cannot the Home Office do something to make them obey an Act which they themselves were instrumental in producing?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am afraid not. The responsibility for enforcing the Act does not lie with the Home Office, but with the local authorities.
§ Mr. McKENNAI am afraid not. That would not be in accordance with the actual terms of the Act.
§ Mr. McKENNANot except by law.