§ 21. Mr. T. SMITH (for Mr. THORNE)asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the House any information in regard to the Lewisham firm of card board-box manufacturers who are accused of supplying false information to one of the Ministry of Labour's inspectors relative to arrears of wages paid and the production of false wages records; whether he can state the amount of arrears owing to a number of employés; whether he is aware that two girls working for the firm were instantly dismissed after giving evidence before the Ministry of Labour's inspector and for not agreeing to accept less than the total amount of arrears owing to them; and what action he proposes to take in regard to the girls' dismissal?
Mr. HUDSONThere was no dispute as to the amount of the arrears, totalling about £118, due in this case. A charge was preferred against the 18 firm's manager of producing false records and giving false information relating to payment of these arrears, and after a full hearing it was dismissed by the court on the ground that the charges had not been made out. Of the two girls who were summarily dismissed, one has found other employment and it is expected that the other will do so shortly.