§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the fact that in White Abbey, county Antrim, large local employers of labour who are also owners of the houses in which their employés reside make it a practice to stop the rent of these houses out of the weekly wage; that they never issue receipts or rent books to their employés, with the result that the latter are penalised when trying to get houses elsewhere; and whether he will take action to remedy this condition of things?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have not had sufficient time since the question appeared upon the Paper to inquire into this case, with regard to which I have at present no information. I may say, however, that the facts mentioned do not disclose any infringement of the Truck Acts. Section 23 of the Act of 1831 expressly allows deductions for rent, provided there is an agreement in writing with the workman, but the Acts do not impose any further requirements as to the giving of receipts or the keeping of rent books.